Desertification is not the spread of existing deserts but the loss of a landscape's productive capacity through degradation, often due to human activities, such as overfarming or land clearance. It is a global problem, recognised as such by the United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD). Arid or dryland ecosystems across the world are at risk, which includes European territory bordering the Mediterranean. A new satellite-based service called DesertWatch offers continuous monitoring of susceptible areas.