Desertification is a man-induced process that leads to soil nutrient depletion and reduction of biological productivity. In the Sahel slashing and burning of natural forest and bushland in order to clear land for annual agriculture is the main cause of this destruction.
Why is the Sahel threatened by desertification?
The Sahel is a narrow belt of land which lies immediately to the south of the Sahara Desert and which extends across most of Africa. The main causes of desertification include: ... Overgrazing – an increasing population results in larger desert areas being farmed . Sheep, cattle and goats are overgrazing the vegetation.
What are some causes and effects of desertification in the Sahel area?
In many cases, increased water runoff from desertified areas wreaks havoc on neighboring lands , eroding soils, damaging vegetation and making soils extremely vulnerable to encroaching desert. ... According to the newest data, the Sahara Desert has been gradually spreading over the grasslands in the neighboring Sahel area.
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.
What are two effects of desertification?
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.
What is the main cause of desertification?
‘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.
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.
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 effect of desertification?
A major effect of desertification is the decrease in crop yields . Once land turns from arable to arid, it is often on longer suitable for farming purposes anymore. In turn, many farmers may lose their livelihood, since they often solely rely on farming as their single source of income.
What are effects of drought?
Drought can also cause long-term public health problems, including: Shortages of drinking water and poor quality drinking water . Impacts on air quality , sanitation and hygiene, and food and nutrition. More disease, such as West Nile Virus carried by mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water.
What are the benefits of desertification?
Combating desertification yields multiple local and global benefits and helps fight biodiversity loss and global climate change . Efforts to reduce pressures on dryland ecosystems need to go hand in hand with efforts to reduce poverty as both are closely linked.
What are the 5 causes of desertification?
- 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 are the causes and consequences of desertification?
Overgrazing is the major cause of desertification worldwide. ... Desertification affects topsoil, groundwater reserves, surface runoff, human, animal, and plant populations. Water scarcity in drylands limits the production of wood, crops, forage, and other services that ecosystems provide to our community.
How does desertification affect the economy?
The impact of desertification on the socio-economic life of rural households leads to reduction in crop and animal production , as well as causing, livestock deaths and rise in the prices of foodstuffs.
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.
What is the conclusion of desertification?
Desertification is the persistent degradation of dryland ecosystems . It affects the livelihoods of millions of people. In 2000, drylands, which occupy 41% of Earth’s land area, were home to a third of the human population.
