Drought and desertification are increasingly pressing issues in the context of climate change, posing serious threats to ecosystems, agriculture, human health, and economies. Once considered local or regional concerns, these environmental challenges are now gaining international attention due to their intensification and widespread impact. This article aims to dive into the root causes, far-reaching consequences, and proactive responses to drought and desertification in Southeast Asia, and highlights global initiatives offering hope for sustainable land management.

1. Drought VS Desertification 

While drought refers to a temporary reduction in water availability due to decreased precipitation, desertification is the long-term degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities. In Southeast Asia, recurrent droughts, coupled with unsustainable land management practices, accelerate soil degradation leading to desertification. This process diminishes the land’s productivity and threatens food security and livelihoods in the long run. 

2. The Drivers of Drought Risks in the Region 

Southeast Asia’s climate is significantly influenced by two major ocean-atmosphere phenomena: the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). On the one hand, El Niño events, characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures (SST) in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, often lead to reduced rainfall and prolonged dry spells in the region. On the other hand, a positive IOD, marked by warmer waters in the western Indian Ocean relative to the east, can suppress precipitation over Southeast Asia. The concurrence of El Niño and a positive IOD intensifies drought conditions, leading to severe water shortages and agricultural stress.​

3. Impacts of Drought and Desertification

Agriculture in Southeast Asia is highly vulnerable to drought and desertification. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that droughts have led to significant crop failures, reduced yields, and increased food insecurity in the region. For instance, prolonged dry periods have adversely affected rice production, especially in Cambodia and Vietnam, while the Philippines are actually expected to experience growth. Rice is a staple food for many Southeast Asian countries, its jeopardy leading to economic losses and heightened vulnerability among farming communities that can result in food inflation. Indeed, lower crop yields caused by extreme weather events and environmental degradation contribute to the significant increase of food prices across Southeast Asia.

Additionally, drought and desertification have profound health impacts. Water scarcity can lead to poor sanitation and hygiene, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. In Cambodia, diarrhoea is the second most common inpatient and outpatient diagnosis and the second leading cause of death for children under five. Dust storms, often a consequence of land degradation, can exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. The prevalence of respiratory illnesses increased by 8.5% during dry years over the last two decades. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights that vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly, are particularly at risk during such environmental events.​ 

4. Initiatives and solutions

Recognizing the escalating threat of drought, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) developed the Regional Plan of Action for Adaptation to Drought (2021–2025). This comprehensive framework outlines strategies across three key areas:

• ​”Reduce and Prevent” by implementing sustainable land and water management practices to mitigate drought risks.​ As of 2025, reforestation initiatives under this pillar have resulted in an estimated increase of forest cover by 6.2% across targeted areas, contributing to improved soil health and watershed protection.

• “Prepare and Respond”, with the establishment of early warning systems and emergency response mechanisms.​
• “Restore and Recover” by promoting land rehabilitation and supporting affected communities in recovery efforts. Land rehabilitation programs restored approximately 220,000 hectares of degraded land across the region. These efforts focused on soil revitalization and sustainable agriculture, benefiting over 1.3 million rural residents who rely on land-based livelihoods.

The plan emphasizes collaboration among ASEAN member states, integration of traditional knowledge, and capacity-building initiatives to enhance regional resilience. While these preliminary results indicate substantial progress, final impact assessments and a full evaluation report from ASEAN are still pending and expected to be released later in 2025.

The Loess Plateau in China, which encompasses the provinces of Gansu, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Ningxia, serves as another testament to successful land restoration. Once plagued by severe soil erosion and poverty, the region underwent a transformative rehabilitation project. Key interventions included reforestation, terracing, and sustainable farming practices. As a result, vegetation cover increased by 25%, sediment runoff into the Yellow River decreased significantly, and local incomes improved. This model underscores the potential of integrated approaches in combating desertification and can offer valuable lessons for Southeast Asia.

Sources 

1. https://www.asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ASEAN-Regional-Plan-of-Action_011121-FINAL-EDIT.pdf (May 2021)
   
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4. https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2025/03/18/desertification-the-earth-is-getting-drier/ (March 2025)
   
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13. https://www.unccd.int/news-stories/press-releases/three-quarters-earths-land-became-permanently-drier-last-three-decades (December 2024)
    
14. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2007/03/15/restoring-chinas-loess-plateau (March 2007)