Techniques exist that protect land even in fragile ecosystems.
But, almost everywhere, land is being degraded through overgrazing, overcultivation, destruction of woodland and vegetation, or poor irrigation practices. It is easy to point to ignorance, overpopulation, or short-term gain. But, single explanations are always inadequate. Reasons lie in the social, political, and economic circumstances that put pressure on the land users to manage land in a non-sustainable way. So, understanding why land users degrade land means embracing the range of relations affecting land users and their intercourse with the world at large.