Sahara Overgrazing (Ancient Times-Present)
Grasslands once flourished, where sand dunes now stretch across North Africa. Too many animals grazing without recovery periods stripped vegetation faster than regrowth. Exposed soil blew away in the wind. The desert expanded southward into previously fertile lands. Political borders disrupted traditional nomadic patterns that had allowed sustainable use for centuries. Millions of productive acres were transformed into barren wastelands. Climate change now accelerates this ongoing disaster.
