[hosh]

Defining characteristic of arid is little precipitation. Desert is more about sandy soil that supports sparse vegetation.

If wasteland can accumulate organic material, and start rebuilding the soil, it starts retaining more water, which brings in more vegetation. This reverses desertification. There are some good examples of this in India. There are parts of the Arizona central canal which accidentally created bearms that also started this effect.

[legulere]

There are also deserts with rocks and not sand. The Sahara in most of its stretch is more rocky than sandy. Arid and desert climate are synonymous.