Rural Land Degradation

Question 1

impacts of degradation in sahel region

socio-economic

Answer 1

• expansion of desert - reduces land for crops and pasture - less crops produced reducing farmer income meaning they cannot spend of healthcare and education, leads to rural poverty
• increased social tensions - fight over land and food
• death - crop failure and livestock death lead to malnutrition and starvation
• loss of skills and knowledge - changes cultures as many have to give up their way of life
• forced migration - leads to overcrowding and informal housing
• many end up in refugee camps with poor conditions - disease widespread

Question 2

impacts of degradation in sahel region

environmental

Answer 2

• wind and water erosion - causes desertificaiton and expansion of sahara desert
• decrease in fuel wood results in other fuels used (oil, kerosene) - releases more CO₂
• change and loss in flora and fauna and a reduction in biodiversity which impacts food webs and other wildlife

Question 3

desertification management strategies

Answer 3

• moveable fences
• crop rotation
• reafforestation
• stone lines
• energy efficient stoves
• irrigation
• terracing

Question 4

movable fences

desertification management strategies

Answer 4

• restrict grazing animals to specific areas to allow remaining land to recover, aslo prevents trampling of soil
• no maintenence or special equipment required
• government funding needed for initial purchase of fences

burkina faso

Question 5

crop rotation

desertification management strategies

Answer 5

• different crops grown on a patch each year allowing soil to recover as different crops require different nutrients
• not expensive
• not as much can be grown which can cause food supply issues, recovering soil is exposed to soil erosion

mali

Question 6

reafforestation

desertification management strategies

Answer 6

• planting trees in drier areas encourages water to collect there encouraging growth
• interception of rainfall reduces soil ersoion by rain-splash and tree roos hold the soil together to reduce erosion rates
• tree saplings are expensive to buy and they take a long time to grow

mali

Question 7

stone lines

desertification management strategies

Answer 7

• stone lines built to follow contours of ground to stop soil being washed downhill - soil builds up behind stones encouraging infiltration of water
• increases yield of crops by 50%
• labour intensive process to set up with lots of heavy stones

niger

Question 8

energy efficient stoves

desertification management strategies

Answer 8

• mud stoves put into homes by government uses 80% less fuelwood
• allows forests time to recover andregenerate
• the stoves are heavy and not easily moveable as well as providing less light and heat

malawi

Question 9

irrigation

desertification management strategies

Answer 9

• artificial watering of crops using stored water keeps soild moist to promote growth
• if water available it is very successful to produce better yields of crops
• overuse of water can make the soil saline which reduces fertility causing an adverse effect

burkino faso

Question 10

terracing

desertification management strategies

Answer 10

• steps are cut into sides of slopes to reduce surface run off washing away topsoil
• water infiltrates more efficiently and less topsoil is washed away
• requires a lot of maintenance to sustain benefits

tanzania