When did the desertification occur?

Desertification became well known in the 1930’s, when parts of the Great Plains in the United States turned into the “Dust Bowl” as a result of drought and poor practices in farming, although the term itself was not used until almost 1950.

Where does desertification usually happen?

This is the process that sees productive land turned into non-productive desert. It usually affects dry areas on the edge of deserts, eg The Sahel, south of the Sahara Desert in Africa.

What are the causes and effects of desertification?

Overgrazing is the major cause of desertification worldwide. Other factors that cause desertification include urbanization, climate change, overuse of groundwater, deforestation, natural disasters, and tillage practices in agriculture that make soils more vulnerable to wind.

What are the causes of desertification in the Sahel?

But since the late 1960s, the Sahel has endured an extensive and severe drought. Desertification occurs when land surfaces are transformed by human activities, including overgrazing, deforestation, surface land mining, and poor irrigation techniques, during a natural time of drought.

Which is the main cause factor for desertification?

Overgrazing: Overgrazing is one of the major factors of land degradation or desertification.

What are the 3 main causes of desertification in Africa?

Various Causes of Desertification

• Animal grazing is a huge problem for many areas that are starting to become desert biomes.
• Climate change plays a huge role in desertification.
• Soil pollution is a significant cause of desertification.
• Mining is another big reason for desertification.
• Desertification.
• Land Degradation.

What causes desertification in South Africa?

Poverty-related agricultural practices are a major contributor to desertification. Continuous cultivation without adding supplements, overgrazing, lack of soil and water conservation structures, and indiscriminate bushfires aggravate the process of desertification.

What are the causes and consequences of desertification?

Climatic disturbances may be both a consequence and a cause of desertification. The destruction of the natural grass and woody vegetation cover in dry lands affects the topsoil temperature and air humidity, and thus influences the movements of atmospheric masses and rainfall.

What are the 5 causes of desertification?

Various Causes of Desertification

• Overgrazing.
• Deforestation.
• Farming Practices.
• Excessive Use of Fertilizers and Pesticides.
• Overdrafting of groundwater.
• Urbanization and Other Types of Land Development.
• Climate Change.
• Stripping the Land of Resources.

Which is the main factor responsible for desertification?

How can we prevent or reverse desertification?

Desertification is easier to slow down and prevent than it is to reverse. Some methods of reversal of desertification involve replanting of specific species and the establishment of seed banks to make sure that plants native to the region survive. In areas that have undergone massive deforestation,…

What are the impacts of desertification?

Impacts of Desertification. Desertification reduces soil fertility, particularly base cation content, organic matter content, pore space, and water-retention capacity. Desertification also reduces vegetative productivity, leading to long-term declines in agricultural yields, livestock yields, plant standing biomass, and plant biodiversity.

What are the results of desertification?

Desertification occurs as a result of a long-term failure to balance human demand for ecosystem services and the amount the ecosystem can supply. The pressure is increasing on dryland ecosystems for providing services such as food, forage, fuel, building materials, and water which is needed for humans, livestock, irrigation, and sanitation.

Why is desertification a problem?

Desertification can be defined as the process by by which fertile land becomes desert and it is a problem that is affecting millions of square kilometers of land across the world. One of the major causes of desertification is human activity, largely deforestation, overgrazing and the reduction of water sources.