Environmental Impacts of Drought

The environment is, of course, directly impacted by drought. Drought can affect water sources, land, fish and wildlife and plant communities. The extent of the effects depend on the type, severity and duration of the drought.

Drought can result in lower water levels in reservoirs, lakes and ponds, as well as reduced streamflow in rivers. This decrease in available water can also lead to shrinking wetlands, groundwater depletion and even impact water quality (e.g. the concentration of salts and other contaminants can increase).

An inadequate water supply will result in the reduced ability for soils to support crops, an increased amount of dust due to dryness, erosion, and a greater chance of wildfires due to drier vegetation.

A lack of water and reduced ability for soil to support crops can affect fish, animals and plant life. Wildlife habitat may become degraded because poor soil quality and inadequate water may affect plant growth, and there may not be enough drinking water for animals. There may also be stress placed on endangered species and a loss of biodiversity in the affected area.

Fish and Animals	– Reduction and degradation of fish and wildlife habitat. – Lack of drinking water for livestock and wildlife.
Water Sources	– Lower water levels in reservoirs, lakes, and ponds. – Reduced streamflow.
Land	Reduced soil quality. Increased quantity of dust.
Plant Communities	Reduced soil quality. Death of vegetation and trees.

Drought is a serious environmental problem that affects many regions of the world.   It can have lasting and irreversible consequences for the health and well-being of humans and nature.  Rising temperatures caused by climate change are making already dry regions drier and wet regions wetter.   In dry regions, this means that when temperatures rise, water evaporates more quickly, and thus increases the risk of drought or prolongs periods of drought [i].   Severe drought affects Africa more than any other continent with over 300 events recorded in the last century [ii].    A 2017 Food and Agriculture report estimates  the percentage of our planet affected by drought has more than doubled from 1970-2010 with some 12 million hectares lost every year to drought and desertification [iii]. 

Sources:

[i] World Health Organisation, n.d., Drought.  https://www.who.int/health-topics/drought/#tab=tab_1.  Accessed 2023-09-11.

[ii] United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, 2022, Drought in Numbers 2022.  https://www.unccd.int/resources/publications/drought-numbers.  Accessed 2023-09-11.

[iii] Food and Agriculture Organisation, 2017, Drought and Agriculture.  https://www.fao.org/3/i7378e/i7378e.pdf.  Accessed 2023-09-11.