Since its origins, the concept of desertification has been shrouded in controversy and ambiguity. As a result, no single definition of the term has been acceptable; there is no agreement on its extent or seriousness; and the solutions proposed are often disparate and counterproductive. This essay suggests all of this is due to the concept of desertification being a permanent ‘prisoner of history’, a historical process led by the United Nations Convention on Desertification (UNCCD). In this essay, I describe why the prisoner of history narrative applies to the concept of desertification. To do this, I review the historical events that built a metaphorical prison for desertification; show why definitions of the term ‘desertification’ are products of this prison; describe how so much misunderstanding and confusion in this field has led to real, negative consequences; and lastly, provide recommendations to young scientists as to how to avoid becoming incarcerated in this prison.

ECOSISTEMAS (ISSN 1697-2473) is the scientific journal on ecology and the environment of the Spanish Association of Terrestrial Ecology. Since 2001 it has been published exclusively in electronic format on a quarterly basis.