DESERTIFICATION
Land degradation in arid areas resulting mainly from adverse human impact”-----UNEP definition.
Desertification is devouring more than 20,000 square miles of land worldwide every year.
Desertification takes place in dry land areas where the earth is especially fragile, where rainfall is nil and the climate harsh.
The result is the destruction of topsoil followed by loss of the land’s ability to sustain crops, livestock or human activity.
In Africa, the Southern Sahara desert is extending at a rate of 6 km/year.
CAUSES OF DESERTIFICATION
Drought
Climatic changes
HUMAN ACTIVITIES
Human activities may initiate desertification in the absence of increased aridity.
- Expansion of desert or desert like conditions into adjacent areas.
- Globally, arid zones are in danger.
- Adverse climatic conditions (persistent drought in arid areas)
- Stresses created by human activities (agriculture, energy demand and urbanization)
Land degradation in arid areas resulting mainly from adverse human impact”-----UNEP definition.
Desertification is devouring more than 20,000 square miles of land worldwide every year.
Desertification takes place in dry land areas where the earth is especially fragile, where rainfall is nil and the climate harsh.
The result is the destruction of topsoil followed by loss of the land’s ability to sustain crops, livestock or human activity.
In Africa, the Southern Sahara desert is extending at a rate of 6 km/year.
CAUSES OF DESERTIFICATION
Natural
Climatic changes
HUMAN ACTIVITIES
Human activities may initiate desertification in the absence of increased aridity.
•Overgrazing
•Over-cultivation
•Deforestation
•Over irrigatioN
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