The main causes of desertification include: Population growth – the population in some desert areas is increasing. ... Overgrazing – an increasing population results in larger desert areas being farmed . Sheep, cattle and goats are overgrazing the vegetation.
How does overgrazing affect desertification?
If the soil is overgrazed by human livestock and other wild animals then there will be nothing left to stop the soil from washing and blowing away , which can lead to desertification overtime.
Does overgrazing cause 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 is desertification caused?
‘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 are the effect of overgrazing?
Overgrazing leads to soil compaction, decreased water retention, increased salinity, and loss of some nutrients, particularly nitrogen . Our results also suggest a strong influence of overgrazing and its associated changes in vegetation condition on the soil ability to buffer water stress during the dry season.
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 we solve overgrazing?
- Pasture forage can be supplemented with stored livestock feed.
- Livestock can be pulled off pasture.
- A percentage of pasture acres can be planted for warm- or cool-season species while perennial-species recover.
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.
Who is affected by desertification?
Desertification occurs on all continents except Antarctica and affects the livelihoods of millions of people , including a large proportion of the poor in drylands.
Why is overgrazing so bad?
Overgrazing can cause a food shortage for both grazing animals and human beings . Once vegetation is gone from an area, the soil erodes. That means the topsoil is carried away, making it much harder to grow anything on the land. It can’t be used to grow new grass or crops.
Why does overgrazing happen?
Overgrazing is a factor of time, not animal species or numbers. It can happen in continuous or rotational grazing systems. According to Pratt, this occurs two ways – animals staying in a paddock too long or coming back too soon .
What are some negative effects of overgrazing?
“During overgrazing, animals reduce plant leaf areas , decreasing plants’ ability to intercept sunlight and grow new leaf material. This reduction in turn slows down plant regrowth, drains energy reserves, and if left unchecked, can lead to eventual plant death.
What are consequences of desertification?
Loss of biodiversity by worsening the living conditions of many species . Food insecurity due to crop failure or reduced yields. The loss of vegetation cover and therefore of food for livestock and humans. Increased risk of zoonotic diseases, such as COVID-19.
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.
How long has desertification been happening?
Desertification became well known in the 1930’s , when parts of the Great Plains in the United States turned into the “Dust Bowl” as a result of drought and poor practices in farming, although the term itself was not used until almost 1950.
