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Desertification is the expansion of desert lands into previously non-desert areas. The process occurs due to both natural and human causes. Deserts occur anywhere where there is less than 10 inches of rainfall each year. Desertification takes place in dryland areas where the earth is especially fragile, where rainfall is nil and the climate harsh. The economic impact is horrendous, with a loss of more than $40 billion per year in agricultural goods and an increase in agricultural prices. Climatic changes can trigger the desertification process, but human activities frequently are the proximate cause. Overgrazing of livestock strips the land of grasses. According to a UN study, about 30% of earth's land - including the 70% of dryland - is affected by drought. Every day, about 33,000 people starve to death. Nomads are trying to escape the desert, but because of their land-use practices, they are bringing the desert with them. It is a misconception that droughts cause desertification. Well-manage