What desertification means?
The United Nations’ official definition says desertification is land degradation in typically dry areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities. Many things can cause desertification. Drought, overgrazing, fire, and deforestation can thin out vegetation, leaving exposed soil.
What is desertification caused by?
‘Climatic variations’ and ‘Human activities’ can be regarded as the two main causes of desertification. removal of the natural vegetation cover（by taking too much fuel wood）, agricultural activities in the vulnerable ecosystems of arid and semi-arid areas, which are thus strained beyond their capacity.
What are the signs of desertification?
The signs, magnitude and severity of desertification can be established through such hydrological indicators as reduced area of water bodies, increased runoff and consequently decreased rainwater infiltration, accelerated soil erosion and sedimentation, and deteriorated ground-water resources.
What is causing 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.
What are the effects of desertification on humans?
The area naturally experiences alternating wet and dry seasons. If the rains fail it can cause drought. The result is crop failure, soil erosion, famine and hunger: people are then less able to work when their need is greatest.
What are the main causes of desertification in 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.
Why is desertification a problem in Africa?
It has been estimated that 319 million hectares of Africa are vulnerable to desertification hazards due to sand movement. Deforestation exposes the soil to high temperatures which break down the organic matter, increase evaporation and make the soils vulnerable to erosion.
What is the difference between drylands and deserts?
is that desert is (senseid)(usually in plural) that which is deserved or merited; a just punishment or reward or desert can be a barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with little water or vegetation; a wasteland while dryland is land that is arid, but not so dry as to be a desert.
Can desertification be reversed?
In order to prevent and reverse desertification, major policy interventions and changes in management approaches are needed. In areas where desertification processes are at the early stages or are relatively minor, it is possible to stop the process and restore key services in the degraded areas.