@conference {JRN54646,
	title = {Is desertification a dirty word?},
	booktitle = {Ecological Society of America},
	year = {2016},
	month = {08/2016},
	publisher = {Ecological Society of America Abstracts},
	organization = {Ecological Society of America Abstracts},
	address = {Fort Lauderdale},
	abstract = {<p>Desertification refers to land degradation in drylands. The term is widely used in ecology and is the basis for a United Nations convention. At best, it is a vague term. At worst, it has been referred to as the {\textquotedblleft}lie of the land{\textquotedblright} and a tool by which powerful actors disenfranchise less powerful ones. I argue that reference to specific state change processes can promote solutions. Desertification in reference to ecological processes should be stricken from scientific discourse. Nonetheless, like other dirty words, {\textquotedblleft}desertification{\textquotedblright} draws attention to critical problems.</p>
},
	author = {Brandon T Bestelmeyer}
}
