6 - challenges of desertification in two or more countries Flashcards
what is desertification
“the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.”
Today, nearly one fifth of the world’s land is threatened with desertification.
a type of land degradation in which a relatively dry area of land becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife
physical causes of desertification
Soil erosion
Changing rainfall patterns
More intense rainfall in less frequent storms
Increased exposure to wind erosion
human causes of desertification
Population growth
Overgrazing
Over cultivation
Deforestation
Anthropogenic accelerated climate change
War
how does population growth cause desertification
Increased strain on resources such as firewood along with the need for more intensive arable and pastoral agriculture compounds issues such as deforestation and over grazing
how does deforestation cause desertification
Removal of vegetation increases soil erosion as the roots help bind the soil together.
Once removed the soil and its nutrients are easily removed by the strong winds and any rainfall.
Trees have been removed to make way for more modern farming techniques, such as mechanised tractors and larger fields.
how does over grazing cause desertification
When livestock eat plants down to the roots, the plants grow short, unsustainable roots and eventually, the plants will stop growing altogether.
This leaves large open areas with no vegetation where the soil is exposed to the elements.
The livestock are then forced to migrate to another area were the problem continues.
how does over cultivation cause desertification
Over cultivation prevents organic matter returning to the soil eventually starving the soil of nutrients causing it to become infertile.
how does climate change cause desertification
Changes in global weather patterns are expected due to global warming. This is likely to increase temperatures and decrease rainfall.
what is salinisation
the deposition of solid salts on the ground surface following the evaporation of water and the increase in salts within the soil reducing fertility.
what causes salinisation
Excessive irrigation in some paces has led to waterlogging of the ground.
Where this happens salts are deposited as water is lost rapidly through evaporation by the hot temperatures.
These salts are poisonous to plants and the process can accelerate desertification.
social consequences of desertification
When desertification encroaches onto lands people are less able to cultivate and agriculture declines.
This leads to a range of social issues, including famine, disease, drought and potentially out-migration from an area.
Desertification also brings less reliable water supplies, one of the key barriers to development in SSA.
economic consequences of desertification
With encroaching desertification the economy of an area can go into reverse. A lot of the problems that arise are both social and economic.
a decreasing GNI per capita, rising unemployment
loss of investment and declining FDI in an area.
political consequences of desertification
there is an increased difficulty regarding successful governance of an area
environmental issues of desertification
the area may suffer an increased number of environmental issues.
People may be forced to increase deforestation, as there is less productive agriculture, over-exploit resources and increase the environmental cycle of deprivation
why is desertification a problem in niger
Niger is a country plagued by drought, poverty, population expansion, a massive education deficit, the division of arable land into small plots, the stagnated development of rural areas and non-existent energy resources.
Only small parts of the land in Niger are arable
