Band 5+: The pie chart below shows the main reasons why agricultural land becomes less productive. The table shows how these causes affected three regions of the world during the 1990s. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

The two charts show the reasons for land degradation and the percentage of each reason in different regions in the world.

Overall, it could be found that over-grazing has the biggest impact on productivity loss compared with other factors. Land in Europe sees the highest degree of degradation.

Three main causes negatively affect the fertility of lands all over the world. Among these, overgrazing accounts for 35% of total lands which become barren. It is followed by deforestation causing 30% and over cultivation responsible for 28%. The rest 7% of land degradation results from other reasons.

When it comes to the situation by region, least lands become degraded in North America with only 5%. The major problem in that area is over- cultivation, contributing 3.3% in total 5%. Deforestation could be in North America by only 0.2%. While it is the major factor in Europe, 9.8% of degradation comes from it. The two factors do not have considerable influence in Oceania where 11.3% of the problem is due to overgrazing.