Degradation

Degradation (in the Human Development Area)

In this context, Degradation means: is a quantitative or qualitative deviation of something from its former state. The term is applicable to the components of the ecosystem (eg. D. of forest, D. of animal population of some areas), water bodies (eg, D. of Aral Sea), population, etc. For example, soil degradation means the decline of soil fertility due to the destruction of its structure, erosion, waterlogging, salinity and other factors, causing the deterioration of soil conditions and slowing of vital protcesses occurring in edasfere.