de sert ) is on e of the leadi ng environmenta l Issu es 111 Africa. Two lead in g ca uses of desertification are th e rem oval of vegeta tio n (o fte n for co o kmg LAGOS. Nigeria fuel ) a nd overgraz ll1g, especia lly in o 01 se m iarid and drou gh t- pr o ne areas. MAU RITI US