Desertification UNIT 3 AOS 2

Question 1

Define desertification?

Answer 1

The loss of previously productive land in specific dry land regions of the world

Question 2

Define soil degradation?

Answer 2

The decline in soil quality caused by its improper use, usually for agriculture, pastoral, industrial, urban

Question 3

Define dry land?

Answer 3

Regions of the world that are climatically zones as arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid. Have a growing season of 1-179 days

Question 4

Define desert?

Answer 4

Regions that receive an annual average precipitation of less than 250mm

Question 5

What is the difference between dry land and desert?

Answer 5

Deserts can’t support rain-fed agriculture production. Dry lands can

Question 6

State 4 geographical characteristics of dry lands?

Answer 6

• very windy
• poor soil quality
• vulnerable to over-exploitation and inappropriate land use by people
• irregular and unpredictable rain patterns

Question 7

What is a process of desertification?

Answer 7

Land in dry land regions becoming more arid and deser-like

Question 8

describe the distribution of areas experiencing or vulnerable to desertification

Answer 8

There is an uneven distribution of regions vulnerable to desertification on the global scale. Regions showing significant amounts of vulnerability include the Sahel region In Burkina Faso and South-West Asia. Other regions in the world showing vulnerability but not to the same degree include Oceania, South-West North America and areas through South American.

Question 9

outline and explain 3 natural causes of desertification

Answer 9

1. lack of rainfall resulting in droughts: contributes to a loss of vegetation and therefore removal of vegetation from the land cover
2. overgrazing animals: contributes to loss of vegetation cover
3. climate change: increased temps stress vegetation while changing rainfall patterns bringing severe storms can lead to further erosion of already fragile soil

Question 10

outline and explain 3 human causes of desertification

Answer 10

1. deforestation: exposes soil to wind and water erosion
2. rapid population growth: drives an increasing need for dry land ecosystems to produce resources, and therefore degrading the land to an unusable state
3. over cultivation: when the same land is used over and over again without allowing the soil to rest and recover, the soil declines in fertility, vegetation fails and land become more vulnerable to desertification

Question 11

3 impacts of desertification on specific location of Burkina Faso

Answer 11

1. around 80% of farmlands suffer from land degradation in the Sahel
2. GDP per capita relatively low (less than US$3,000 per year) and decrease in price of grains due to desertification is not good for the economy
3. crop yields have significantly decreased stunting the economy

Question 12

3 general impacts of desertification

Answer 12

1. Soil erosion: land that is unprotected by vegetation is exposed to both wind and water erosion, stripping the top fertile later of soil and washing it away
2. human well-being: food production declines, there are growing threats of food insecurity leading to poor diets and related illnesses
3. economic losses: agriculture is the main livelihood for many people. The loss of land through desertification contributes to increasing poverty levels

Question 13

spatial technology? how is it used? who uses it?

Answer 13

satellite imaging technology is used and can measure crop health, air quality and yield determination, this can help to determine the correct action plans to solve the issues brought about by desertification. Used by UNCCD

Question 14

describe the stone bunds response

Answer 14

• stone are placed following the contours of the land
• this allows for water to infiltrate into the land/soil
• placed 25-40 metres appart
• about 0.5-1.5 m high off the ground
• grasses can be used to reinforce walls if stones are in short supply
• Bilanga a town in eastern Burkina Faso
• Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
• PATECORE phased out in 2006, Terre-verde currently
• Local people doing it (bottom up)
• started in 1980’s, still happening now

Question 15

evaluate the stone bunds response

Answer 15

• bottom up
• yields increased by 50% after first year
• passed on to Mali and Niger
• uses local resources
• still in existence 30 years later
• 1/3 of a million hectares reclaimed
• costs when stones are in short supply
• NGO’s can leave whenever
• shortage of stones due to popularity of the technique

Question 16

how successful has it been? (stone bunds)

Answer 16

• land re-established

- social and economic well-being improved for local people in the Sahel region

Question 17

describe the GGW response

Answer 17

involved a wall of trees stretching over 11 different countries in the Sahel and is 15km wide.

• Sahel
• Numerous NGO’s and governments involved
• Initiated in 2005, first seed planted in Senegal in 2008

Question 18

evaluate the GGW response

Answer 18

• china adopted the idea
• market days more successful
• after 8 years improvements were evident
• top down rather than bottom up
• trees protect land from water and wind erosion
• dependent on overseas AID

Question 19

how successful has it been? (GGW)

Answer 19

• living standards have improved
• economy has improved
• quality of life has improved

Question 20

describe the UNCCD response

Answer 20

a framework made by the UN to raise awareness of the ongoing issue of desertification and the harmful effects of it on our planet. World desertification day is on the 17th of June every year

• global cooperation that targets specific countries: china, mongolia, burkina faso
• the UN started it
• 1970’s

Question 21

evaluate the UNCCD response

Answer 21

• regional cooperation with developing countries
• 26 countries in Africa are developing national action plans
• linking action for combating desertification with poverty reduction and gender equality
• no method or solution
• the rate of desertification still remains faster then the rate of rehabilitation

Question 22

how successful has it been? (UNCCD)

Answer 22

• hasn’t been effective

- countries suffering from dryland degradation has increased from 110 in early 1990’s to 168 in 2013