Desert ecosystems are fragile. Arid lands easily deteriorate under modest impact, and the process of human‐induced decrease in their stability is calleddesertification.Desert ecosystems are characterized by a number of harsh abiotic conditions, such as heat, drought, wind, salt, occasional floods, high‐lime and/or rocky and sandy soil. These combined in various groupings, sometimes with intense animal activity, make for the fragile ecosystems so easily subject to desertification when arid lands are cultivated. When human‐made stresses are further superimposed upon these stresses, results can be devastating because of the additive and synergistic nature of the stresses. Even non‐arid lands are subject to desertification because of mismanagement. Destruction of vegetation can change climate and accompanying soil erosion can create desert conditions. Salinity is a major cause of desertification in irrigated lands. Air pollution is another.