2.2 Rural Flashcards
Impact of Rural Land Degradation
Lack of fertile soil due to wind erosion may lead to crops being unable to grow
Death of livestock results in a reduced food supply which can lead to malnutrition or famine
Due to poor crop yields, farmers could lose income which makes it difficult to pay for basic necessities
Desertification is becoming more severe which results in long-term issues for the farming community such as a loss of income
Conflict over limited land has meant farmers have been forced to move and had to re-settle
Rural migration due to lack of food supply resulted in overcrowded urban areas and growth of illegal settlements
Some countries are reliant on aid from other countries to supply food and water which means debt repayments in the future are high
Biodiversity loss as ecosystems struggle to support wildlife and plant species
Management of Rural Land Degradation
Agro-forestry- farmers grow trees and crops on the same piece of land and it protects the soil from wind erosion due to trees providing shelter
Afforestation- aim to conserve soils by restoring a significant area of forests and to protect existing forests
Shelter belts- rows of trees deflect wind off the ground to reduce soil erosion and slow down winds by nearly half
Stone lines- create barriers that trap soil from being washed away by rain and allows infiltration to occur for crops to grow
Selective logging- trees can only be cut to a certain height and width to allow them to re-grow
Effectiveness of Rural Land Degradation
Agro-forestry- trees take a while to grow so effects will take a long time to happen
Afforestation- rate of deforestation is still faster so the incentives given to local is unencouraging
Shelter belts- has multiple effects as fruit can be grown on trees for another source of income
Stone line- very simple to construct as there is little resources needed which makes it cost-effective
Selective logging- it allows trees that have recently been planted to have a life span which also protects the soil
