Rural geography

Question 1

Explain the impacts of rural land degradation on a region you have studied.

Answer 1

Rill and Gullies: the exposure of soil leaves it open to the intense tropical downpours of the ITCZ
loss of topsoil: strong winds such as the harmattan wind erode topsoil from land that has become degraded due to over-cultivation, overgrazing, and deforestation
salinization: inappropriate famine technology and the growth of cash crops farming have led to an increase in flood irrigation causing salt to accumulate in the soil. This kills crops and contaminates the soil.
malnutrition and starvation: The failure of crops year after year, Leads to starvation and death eg Sudan, Malnutrition may also contribute to the reduction in the range of crops grown to concentrate on cash crops.
Depending on external support: Due to land degradation and drought, many people have been forced to rely on food and national aid.
Access to education: In Burkina Faso education must be paid for therefore loss of income brought about by the failure of crops and herds may mean students have their schooling interrupted.
loss of income to farmers: cash crops decrease due to soil exhaustion example; Cotton, being exported will fall and countries will lose a valuable source of income.

Question 2

Explain the solutions that have been put in place, within a region you have studied, to combat Rural Land Degradation and comment on their effectiveness.

Answer 2

Afforestation will help prevent soil erosion as the roots will bind the soil and hold it in place.
The great green wall is an African movement with an epic ambition to grow 8,000 Km of trees across the entire width of Africa.
Stone lines in Burkina Faso have built lines of stones along contours on the sloping farmland this prevents wind erosion and topsoil from being washed away.
The Gezira scheme is one of the largest irrigation projects in the world, it is at the confluence of the blue and white Nile rivers in Sudan.
Education: Educate farmers about the damage of flood irrigation.
Fuel efficiency stoves: The development of stoves like jiko which are cheap and use half of the amount that an open fire does, if less wood is needed then there will be more trees to hold the soil together.
Terraces: Farmers create terraces in the landscape by cutting into the sloping land to create flat and level fields to plant crops in. However, most farmers in the Sahel do not have the tools and knowledge to build them.
Managed areas and heard size: area of grazing land are fenced off from animals on rotational bases to allow land to regenerate and be useful in the future. This allows the grass and soil to reestablish itself and the nutrients to be replaced

Question 3

Causes of Rural Land Degradation?

Answer 3

population growth:
over-cultivation:
overgrazing:
deforestation:
urbanization:
growth of cash crops: