Meaning of desertification
Desertification is a process of land-degradation by which a region becomes progressively drier and drier eventually becoming desert. Or, to put it another way — desertification is the process by which previously biologically productive land is transformed into wasteland
Desertification can be defined as a type of land degradation in which a relatively dry land region becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife.
Desertification is also defined as “land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities
Causes Of Desertification
Human activities that can cause desertification
- The cultivation of soils that are fragile, or exposed to erosion by wind or water;
- Reduction in the fallow period of soils, and lack of organic or mineral fertilizers;
- Overgrazing – often selectively – of shrubs, herbs and grasses
- Deforestation
- Over exploitation of woody resources, in particular for fuelwood
- Uncontrolled use of fire for regenerating pasture, for hunting, for agricultural clearing, or for settling certain social conflicts;
- Agricultural practices that destroy the soil structure, especially the use of unsuitable agricultural machinery;
- Agricultural practices that result in the net export of soil nutrients, leading to loss of the soil fertility, such as cash-cropping;
- Diversion of rivers to create irrigation schemes
Effects Of Desertification
- Desertification reduces the ability of land to support life,
- It affects wild species, domestic animals, agricultural crops and people.
- It brings about reduction in plant cover that accompanies
- Desertification leads to accelerated soil erosion by wind and water.
