‘Desertification affects 1.4% of metropolitan France’

April 2025

Agence pour l’Environnement et la Maîtrise de l’Energie (ADEME)

What exactly does it mean to be affected by desertification?

Jean-Luc Chotte

When we hear about desertification, we tend to think of a large expanse of sand like the Sahara expanding. But it’s not just that. We are talking about a gradual process of soil productivity loss and thinning of vegetation cover due to human activities and climate change. The general public and politicians need to realise that such land degradation threatens our regions and that it is therefore urgent to protect the health of our soils.

What led France to join the list of countries affected by desertification?

J-L. Chotte

With climate change, droughts are becoming more frequent and longer in the south of France, to the point that a large part of the Mediterranean coastline is now classified as arid, semi-arid or dry sub-humid, and therefore susceptible to desertification. According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), this phenomenon occurs when soils, in addition to being located in this type of climate, suffer from poor use (monoculture, lack of rotation, etc.), have low vegetation cover and contain limited organic matter. They are then too degraded to produce new plants, store water or be resilient to disturbances and stress. Today, 0.14% of the total area of metropolitan France meets this definition.

However, we felt that this relatively low figure did not accurately reflect the situation. Other criteria can lead to the same loss of fertility and resilience, even in less arid climates, including soil erosion caused by rain or wind, salinisation, nutrient imbalances and pollution. That is why the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) proposes taking other indicators into account when measuring desertification. In partnership with the Nitidae association, which works to preserve the environment and strengthen local economies, we have tested these indicators. The result: around 1.4% of the total area of metropolitan France is affected by desertification or a similar phenomenon. That is 751,700 hectares.

What will change now that France has been added to the list of countries affected by desertification?

J-L. Chotte

Until now, France was one of the countries that had ratified the UNCCD. It contributed to the fight against desertification around the world, particularly through its development aid policy. By joining the list of affected countries, it will continue to support this type of project, but will also be able to contribute more effectively to the production of knowledge on the state of soil degradation worldwide, as it is committed to monitoring the situation on its territory. It will also be able to work on new indicators to identify areas at risk, which would not only apply to arid regions. Furthermore, by changing its status, France will be able to better promote its actions in favour of more sustainable soil management on its territory.

What can be done about desertification? Is the phenomenon reversible?

J-L. Chotte

Yes, it is reversible. By supporting more appropriate land use, such as agroecology, or by replanting forests, it is possible to restore soil health and make it more resilient to extreme events. Better management of organic matter would improve soil fertility. The problem is that a change in practice only yields results after a transition period of around ten years. Farmers cannot commit without financial support. To help them, we need to value the services they provide to the community, not just their production. By improving their soil management, they contribute to better carbon storage, biodiversity preservation, water quality, etc.

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