Analyse the relationship between landscape type and risk of desertification shown in Figure 3 - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 2 - 2020 - Paper 1

The overall analysis indicates that the entire region is at risk of some degree of desertification. Different landscape types exhibit varying degrees of risk, with certain areas being more susceptible than others.

The data suggests a correlation between types of landscapes and desertification risk levels. For instance, the Type 4 region, characterized mainly by grassland, shows a high risk of desertification. This is possible because these areas may lack adequate vegetation cover to prevent soil erosion.

Moreover, the Type 5 landscape, which involves cropland expansion at the expense of grasslands, faces a severe threat. It indicates that increased agricultural activities lead to environmental degradation, where the risk of high desertification rises dramatically.

Interestingly, Type 3, being an unurbanised area, appears to have a lower risk compared to urbanized zones which typically exhibit heightened risks due to urban expansion and its associated pressures on the ecosystem.

Quantitatively, the data displays that 71% of the land in the Type 5 region is at very high risk, which is about 65% higher than the estimated threshold of 5% in lower-risk areas. This stark contrast emphasizes that certain ways of land use directly contribute to a higher risk of desertification.

Finally, it is crucial to consider external factors such as human activities affecting different landscape types, which in turn might amplify the risk of desertification in vulnerable regions.