Land degradation

Question 1

Impact of rural land degradation in a semi arid area 12

Answer 1

• rural land degradation (RDL) can lead to crop failure and the death of live stock (1) which can cause an increase in malnutrition and starvation (1) which can in turn detrimentally impact child development (1)
• there may be large scale migration (1) into crowded urban areas, causing more pressure and the growth of shanty towns (1)
• migration can also lead to conflict between ethnic groups as people move (1) eg Darfur (1eg) leading to the growth of large refugee camps (1)

-countries are becoming increasingly reliant on international aid (1) or paying back high interest loans (1)

• the soil structure deteriorates as the wind blows it away (1) causing the advance of the Sahara desert- desertification (1)

Question 2

What are the strategies to manage desertification

Answer 2

-moveable fences-farmers restrict grazing animals to certain areas of land to allow remaining land to recover, allowing farmers to move animals between fenced areas, reducing the dangers of over-grazing

-crop rotation- grow different crops on a patch each year, letting soil fully recover for its fertility and minerals

-stone lines- stone lines are built following contours which stop soils being washed downslope. Soil builds up behind stones, encouraging infiltration of water and therefore better crop growth.

Energy efficient stoves- mud stoves put in everyone’s houses in Mali by the government. this uses 80% less fuel wood compared to traditional stoves so less trees need to be cut down

irrigation- artificial watering of crops from stored water. this keep the soil moist, allowing crops to grow and preventing soil being blown away

terracing- eg fanja juu terraces- steps cut into sides of slopes reducing run-off and retaining topsoil and water.

Question 3

effectiveness of strategies to minimise desertification

Answer 3

-moveable fences- fairly cheap once fences have been bought and requires no maintenance/ specialist equipment

-crop rotation-cant grow as much which can be concerning in areas of undernutrition. the rest of the soil may be unprotected before the grass grows back so may be washed or blown away

• stone lines- increases yields by 50% and can be used for cash crops such as pumpkins- however its labour-intensive which diverts the community from tasks that are essential to their survival
• energy efficient stoves- good as forests are given time to regenerate rather than being destroyed for firewood- however its heavy so not portable whilst also providing less light and warmth

terracing- requires a lot of maintenance