Threatened warm deserts and semideserts biome

Nature

The threatened warm deserts and semideserts biome refers to arid regions characterized by high temperatures, low rainfall, and sparse vegetation, currently facing significant ecological threats. Human activities such as overgrazing, unsustainable agriculture, urban expansion, and resource extraction disrupt fragile ecosystems, leading to habitat loss, soil degradation, and declining biodiversity. Climate change exacerbates these pressures through increased droughts and temperature extremes. As a result, many endemic plant and animal species are at risk, and ecosystem services—such as carbon sequestration and soil stabilization—are compromised, highlighting the urgent need for conservation and sustainable management of these vulnerable biomes.

Background

The global significance of threatened warm deserts and semideserts emerged in the late 20th century, as ecologists documented accelerating habitat loss and species decline in regions such as the Sahara, Sonoran, and Central Asian deserts. International conservation bodies, notably the IUCN, began highlighting these biomes’ vulnerability in the 1990s, prompting targeted research and monitoring. Recognition of their unique biodiversity and ecological functions has since grown, underscoring their susceptibility to anthropogenic pressures and climate change.

Incidence

Warm deserts and semideserts, covering approximately one-sixth of the Earth’s land surface, are increasingly threatened by habitat degradation, overgrazing, unsustainable water extraction, and climate change. These pressures have led to significant biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruption across regions such as the Sahara, the Arabian Desert, and the deserts of Central Asia and North America, making the problem globally significant.
In 2022, Iran’s Lut Desert experienced severe habitat fragmentation due to expanding agricultural activities and illegal groundwater extraction, resulting in the decline of endemic plant species and the near disappearance of the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah from the region.

Claim

The rapid degradation of warm deserts and semideserts is an urgent crisis that demands immediate global attention. These unique biomes, home to extraordinary biodiversity and vital ecological processes, are being devastated by human activity and climate change. Ignoring their plight is reckless; their loss will trigger irreversible damage to ecosystems, water cycles, and local communities. Protecting these threatened landscapes is not optional—it is a moral and environmental imperative for the survival of our planet.

Counter-claim

The so-called “threat” to warm deserts and semideserts is vastly overstated. These regions are naturally harsh, sparsely populated, and have always experienced extreme conditions. Human impact here is minimal compared to forests or wetlands. Resources should be focused on more productive, biodiverse ecosystems. Worrying about deserts and semideserts is a distraction from real environmental crises that actually affect people, wildlife, and the planet’s health in meaningful ways.