Desertification is, “
land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities
“. … Desertification processes affect about 46% of Africa.
What is desertification explain?
Desertification refers to
the persistent degradation of dryland ecosystems by climatic variations and human activities
. It occurs on all continents (except Antarctica) and affects the livelihoods of millions of people, including a large proportion of the poor in drylands. The U.N.
What is causing desertification in Africa?
‘Climatic variations’ and ‘Human activities’ can be regarded as the two main causes of desertification.
removal of the natural vegetation cover(by taking too much fuel wood)
, agricultural activities in the vulnerable ecosystems of arid and semi-arid areas, which are thus strained beyond their capacity.
What is desertification short answer?
Desertification refers to
the process of fertile land becoming unproductive
. This means that the land struggles to grow any type of vegetation due to lack of minerals and nutrients in the soil.
Where is desertification in Africa?
Desertification in Africa
More specifically, desertification plays its largest role in the
grasslands of East Africa, the Kalahari Desert and the Sahara Desert
. These regions span over 65 percent of the land. In Ethiopia, 80 percent of the land is at risk of desertification.
What are the 3 main causes of desertification in Africa?
- Overgrazing. …
- Deforestation. …
- Farming Practices. …
- Excessive Use of Fertilizers and Pesticides. …
- Overdrafting of groundwater. …
- Urbanization and Other Types of Land Development. …
- Climate Change. …
- Stripping the Land of Resources.
What country in Africa is most affected by desertification?
The country that is arguably the most damaged by desertification is
Senegal
. Migrations in Senegal are common, as wind erosion, deforestation and climate change wreaks havoc on farms and livestock.
What are 3 causes of desertification?
Human activities that contribute to desertification include the
expansion and intensive use of agricultural lands, poor irrigation practices, deforestation, and overgrazing
. These unsustainable land uses place enormous pressure on the land by altering its soil chemistry and hydrology.
How can desertification be prevented?
Integrated land and water management
are key methods of desertification prevention. All measures that protect soils from erosion, salinization, and other forms of soil degradation effectively prevent desertification.
What is the importance of desertification?
In Africa and other countries largely dependant on agricultural production, desertification can
reduce agricultural yields and make them much more unpredictable
. It therefore affects food security of those living in affected areas.
How can desertification affect humans?
Land degradation and desertification can affect human health
through complex pathways
. As land is degraded and deserts expand in some places, food production is reduced, water sources dry up and populations are pressured to move to more hospitable areas. … the spread of infectious diseases as populations migrate.
What is desertification and types?
Desertification is
a type of land degradation in which a relatively dry land region becomes increasingly arid
, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife. It is caused by a variety of factors, such as climate change and human activities.
Why is desertification a problem?
* Desertification is mainly a
problem of sustainable development
. Its causes include over-cropping, over-grazing, improper irrigation practices, and deforestation. Poor land management practices such as these often stem from the socioeconomic conditions in which the farmers live, and can be prevented.
Where is the risk of drought in Africa?
The figure shows that the lowest risk ratio is found in
Tunisia, Morocco, and Libya
, respectively, all of which are located in northern Africa. Despite the substantial increase of drought hazard in these three countries, they all indicate decreasing vulnerability and low changes in exposure.
What is the main cause of deforestation in Africa today?
The conversion of forest land to agriculture, both subsistence and commercial
, is by far the most common and most destructive cause of deforestation in Africa and other tropical regions.
How can we stop desertification in Africa?
- Integrating land and water management to protect soils from erosion, salinization, and other forms of degradation.
- Protecting the vegetative cover, which can be a major instrument for soil conservation against wind and water erosion.
