CASE STUDY 9 : DESERTIFICATION CASE STUDY - SAHEL

Question 1

LOCATION

Answer 1

NORTHERN CENTRAL AFRICA
FROM MAURITANIA EAST TO ERITREA
ACROSS 12 COUNTRIES
SOUTH OF SAHARA DESERT
NORTH OF THE EQUATOR

Question 2

CAUSES

Answer 2

POPULATION PRESSURE LEADUING TO : 
                OVER GRAZING
                OVER CULTIVATION
                DEFORESTATION
CLIMATE CHANGE MAKING RAINFALL UNRELIABLE

Question 3

OVER CULTIVATION (DEFINITION)

Answer 3

OCCURS WHEN CROPS ARE GROWN ON THE SAME PIECE OF LAND YEAR AFTER YEAR AND THE NUTRIENTS RUN OUT AND THE CROPS DIE LEAVING THE SOIL BARE

Question 4

IMPACTS

Answer 4

OVER 350,OOO STARVED IN NIGER IN 2010 DUE TO DROUGHT AND DESERTFICATION

2,500KM (SQUARED) OF LAND LOST EACH YEAR TO DESERTIFICATION IN NIGER

Question 5

SAHEL

Answer 5

INLAND AND MADE UP OF COUNTRIES SUCH AS CHAD, SUDAN, AND NIGER

SOUTH OF SAHARA DESERT = VERY HOT AND DRY

ALSO NORTH OF THE CONGO RIVER BASIN = ECOSYSTEM IS A RAINFOREST

Question 6

OVER GRAZING (DEFINITION)

Answer 6

WHEN LIVESTOCK IS ALLOWED TO EAT TOO MUCH VEGETATION. THIS CAUSES THE SOIL TO BECOME BARE AND VULNERABLE TO RAIN AND WIND EROSION.

Question 7

SOLUTIONS

Answer 7

AFFORESTATON ( ESTABLISHMENT OF FOREST) WITH ACACIA

RAINWATER HARVESTING

BUILDING ROCK BUNDS TO PREVENT SOIL EROSION AND MAINTAIN MOISTURE

INTERNATIONAL GREEN WALL

Question 8

INTERNATIONAL GREEN WALL

Answer 8

PROVIDE A WALL OF VEGETATION PLANTED IN A LONG LINE ACROSS THE SAHEL TO PROVIDE A BARRIER AGAINST THE ADVANCE OF THE SAHARA DESERT.

DIFFICULT TO DO AS ALL COUNTRIES OF THE SAHEL HAVE TO AGREE TO DO THIS

Question 9

DESERTIFICATION (DEFINITION)

Answer 9

THE PROCESS OF BECOMING MORE DESERT LIKE

DESERTIFICATION IS ENCOURAGED WHEN THE TOPSOIL IS REMOVED BY EROSION. ANYTHING THAT REMOVES VEGETATION FROM THE SOIL LEAVES IT VULNERABLE TO EROSION

Question 10

AFFORESTATION

Answer 10

ESTABLISHMENT OF FOREST

CREATES HABITAT FOR ANIMALS
LONG PERIOD OF TIME FOR GROWTH

Question 11

ROCK BUNDS

Answer 11

HAND MADE ROCK DAMS TO PREVENT SOIL EROSION AND MAINTAIN MOISTURE

+ SIDE = CHEAP

=-VE SIDE = LOOKS AWFUL

Question 12

HUMAN CAUSES

Answer 12

POPULATION HAS GROWN = 
MORE FIREWOOD IS NEEDED FOR COOKING,
 MORE TREES ARE DAMAGED, 
FEWER LEAVES, = LESS EVAPOTRANSPIRATION
LESS SHADE = SOIL MORE EXPOSED.

MORE GOATS ARE KEPT FOR FOOD AND MILK =
OVERGRAZING KILLS VEGETATION

LOCAL PEOPLE ARE MORE SETTLED (LESS NOMADIC) = SAME AREAS CLOSE TO VILLAGE ARE GRAZED