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 are the bad effects of desertification?
The adverse effects of desertification also include floods in heavy rainfall regions, land, water, and air pollution, storms and several other natural disasters , all of which can be fatal to human life. Also, due to desertification, the soil becomes unsuitable for agriculture, and there may be a huge loss of food.
How does desertification affect people and the environment?
Desertification, an extreme form of land degradation, is a global phenomenon that is influenced by and has an impact on climate change and biodiversity loss . Land degradation causes a decline in land productivity and is therefore likely to lead to increased levels of poverty.
Why does desertification affect mankind?
Across the world, desertification affects the livelihoods of millions of people who rely on the benefits that dryland ecosystems can provide . In drylands, water scarcity limits the production of crops, forage, wood, and other services ecosystems provide to humans.
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.
In what four ways is desertification harmful to human?
Four areas affected by desertification
Rain-fed croplands , which experience unreliable rainfall and wind-driven soil erosion. Grazing lands, which are harmed by overgrazing, soil compaction, and erosion.
What is the main reason 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.
What can humans do to prevent desertification?
- Planting more trees – the roots of trees hold the soil together and help to reduce soil erosion from wind and rain.
- Improving the quality of the soil – this can be managed by encouraging people to reduce the number of grazing animals they have and grow crops instead.
What are 5 causes of drought?
- 1) Land and water temperatures cause drought. ...
- 2) Air circulation and weather patterns also cause drought. ...
- 3) Soil moisture levels also contribute to drought. ...
- 4) Drought can also be a supply and demand of water issue.
How does desertification affect the society?
“The [result is] declines in crop and livestock productivity, loss of biodiversity, increasing chances of wildfires in certain areas . Naturally, these will have negative impacts on food security and livelihoods, especially in developing countries.”
What are the causes and consequences of desertification?
Climatic disturbances may be both a consequence and a cause of desertification. The destruction of the natural grass and woody vegetation cover in dry lands affects the topsoil temperature and air humidity, and thus influences the movements of atmospheric masses and rainfall.
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.
Where is desertification occurring today?
Africa is the simple answer to the question: where is desertification happening? 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.
Can desertification be reversed?
In order to prevent and reverse desertification, major policy interventions and changes in management approaches are needed . ... In areas where desertification processes are at the early stages or are relatively minor, it is possible to stop the process and restore key services in the degraded areas.
How does over farming cause desertification?
Damage to land (desertification)
Over cultivation puts extreme pressure on land . This makes the farm unsustainable for further use which can cause permanent damage to soil fertility. Sometimes, the land becomes infertile to the point of desertification. ... Drylands are more at risk of developing desertification.
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.
