Reducing Desertification case study

Question 1

What are the causes of desertification?

Answer 1

• overcultivation
• overgrazing
• trees removed as demand increases

Question 2

What are the four types of sustainable solutions to managing water desertifcation?

Answer 2

• water management
• tree planting
• soil management
• appropriate technology

Question 3

How have people used the sustainable solution of water management?

Answer 3

DRIP IRRIGATION - drips water directly onto soil where needed to reduce wastage

Question 4

How have people used the sustainable solution of tree planting?

Answer 4

TREE PLANTING - roots hold soil together, provides shade
CROP SELECTION - growing crops that don’t require as much water as others
CROP ROTATION - choosing the crops that grow best during each time of the year

Question 5

How have people used the sustainable solution of soil management?

Answer 5

SOIL MANAGEMENT - leave land aside to recover, or composting adds nutrients

Question 6

How have people used the sustainable solution of appropriate technology?

Answer 6

SAND FENCES - trap sediment to stop it blowing away
SOLAR COOKING - sun’s energy to cook food, cheap, easy
TERRACING - hillsides turn into flat tiers, soil is more stable