Arid regions occupy 41% of terrestrial land. The destruction of soil leads to economical problems of the regions. In areas of increased desertification access to water becomes obstructed, the agricultural market is decreasing, unemployment and poverty are increasing. About one hundred million hectares in Russia are subjected to degradation. The soil changes occur in 33 regions, including Kalmykia – the most treeless territory of the country, half of which is occupied by semi-deserts and steppes. A sharply continental climate with hot and dry summers, impact of sun and wind, soil salinization and irrational grazing have led to desertification of the territory. Drought, lack of fresh water and expansion of the sandy territory in Kalmykia have caused the disappearance of several inhabited localities.
Sergey Nazarov is a young documentary photographer from Saint-Petersburg. In 2016-2017, he received training at the School of DokDokDok on the program of Documentary Photography and Photojournalism.
