Final answer:
Desertification is caused by natural and human factors and leads to the loss of biodiversity, displacement of populations, and food and water scarcity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Desertification is caused by a combination of natural and human-induced factors. Natural causes include climate change, droughts, and soil erosion. Human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, and intensive agriculture also contribute to desertification. These actions result in the loss of fertile topsoil and the transformation of once productive land into desert.
The effects of desertification are wide-ranging. They include the loss of biodiversity as habitats are destroyed, the displacement of local populations as land becomes uninhabitable, and the disruption of ecosystems. Desertification also leads to food and water scarcity, as well as increased poverty and social instability in affected regions.