The earth needs us: June 17th commemorates World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

Every June 17th, the world unites to commemorate the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, a date proclaimed by the United Nations to raise awareness about the urgent need to preserve the planet’s soils and mitigate the devastating effects of drought.

In the 21st century, desertification and drought are neither distant nor foreign problems: they affect more than 3.2 billion people worldwide. The advance of soil degradation, driven by deforestation, overexploitation of aquifers, inadequate agricultural practices, and climate change, compromises food security, access to drinking water, and the stability of entire communities, especially in vulnerable regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. On the other hand, prolonged droughts, increasingly frequent and intense, have become a silent threat that destabilizes agricultural economies, destroys natural habitats, and exacerbates migratory crises and territorial conflicts.

What is desertification?

The desertification does not mean that deserts expand, but that previously productive lands progressively degrade until they become unproductive. This phenomenon is usually caused by deforestation, the overexploitation of land for intensive agriculture, soil salinization, and the loss of vegetation cover. When soils lose their fertility and structure, cultivation becomes difficult, biodiversity is reduced, and the hydrological cycle is weakened.

What about the drought?

The drought is a climatic anomaly caused by the lack of rainfall for a prolonged period, affecting the availability of water in rivers, reservoirs and aquifers. Droughts are also exacerbated by climate change and by the inefficient use of water in sectors such as agriculture, industry and households. Both phenomena are interconnected and their impact can be catastrophic if preventive and corrective measures are not taken.

How does this affect countries like the Dominican Republic?

In tropical and agricultural countries like Dominican Republic, soil degradation and droughts directly affect food production, the availability of drinking water, the health of ecosystems, and the rural economy. Many areas of the country experience loss of forest cover and accelerated erosion due to poor agricultural practices, illegal mining, and changes in land use. Although some reforestation and sustainable management plans have been developed, greater coordination between institutions, public investment, and environmental education is still required to stop degradation.

What can we do as citizens?

Even though it may seem like a distant problem, we can all take concrete steps that contribute to soil care and water management:

• Participate in reforestation or environmental restoration days.
• Avoid burning crop residues or scrub, which erode the soil and cause forest fires.
• Promote and practice sustainable agriculture, using compost, crop rotation and avoiding excessive agrochemicals.
• Be responsible with the use of water at home: repair leaks, reuse rainwater and do not waste it.
• Support and consume local and seasonal products, which require fewer water resources.

Beyond June 17th

This day is a key opportunity to reflect on the intimate relationship between the land and our survival. But the fight against desertification and drought should not be limited to a day of reflection: it must become a constant commitment. The land, as a shared legacy, must be protected by all, to ensure a fertile, equitable and sustainable future.

Furthermore, it is important to remember that this cause is connected to other key environmental dates such as International Soil Conservation Day (July 7) and World Soil Day (December 5). Because without fertile land there is no food, without water there is no life and without conscience there is no future.