But extensive irrigation projects, the encroaching desert and an increasingly dry climate have caused to shrink to 5% its former size.

但是过度的灌溉，逐渐的沙漠化以及气候的变化，已经使如今乍得湖的面积仅为以前的5%。

youdao

Mountains to the north, northwest and west shield the city and northern China's agricultural heartland from the encroaching desert steppes.

北面、西北面和西面的群山将城市和华北农业中心地带环绕，阻止了沙漠草原对这些地方的侵蚀。

youdao

Food inflation is the largest concern for most Chinese right now, encroaching desert and urbanization is stretching its food production capabilities.

食品通胀是目前大多数中国人最关心的问题，沙漠化与都市化耗尽了中国的粮食生产力。

youdao

Entire villages in China's north have been lost, submerged in sand by the encroaching desert.

CNN: Economic miracle, environmental disaster

Johnny remembers when Palm Springs still had sand on the roads, the desert encroaching much more than it does today.

BBC: The perfect trip: Southwest USA