desertification

Definition
Desertification is a process of turning the produc
tive land into desert.

A definition of desertification should recognize th

at it is a land degradation process that involves a
continuum of change, from slight to very severe
degradation of the plant and soil resource, and is
due to man's activities.
Desertification is also a situation on the desert
expansion. That means desert is continuously
expanding to the surrounding area.
 Where?
Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East,
western Asia, northern Mexico and south-
eastern South America, western United
States, prairies of Canada, and eastern
Australia. Scientists estimate that 60,000
square kilometers of new desert are now
annually created worldwide.
 Causes on desertification
desertification
Climatic
Human factors
change

Impropriate
High pop.
+ Poor / poverty irrigation Global Less R
-salinization warming

Over deforest Over

grazing ation cropping

Soil fertility , soil degradation & Soil aridity

 Cause
Human factors:
High population
-Deforestation---demand more
land and timber for cropping &
building, cutting down to tree
extensively
-Over cropping-demand for
food crops & the cash crops
demanded by MCDs , shifting
cultivation, soil fertility, secondary
growth
Poverty / poor
-Over grazing---LDCs have a large international debts,
the cheap labours & the extensive land in LDCs used by MDCs,
in order to pay the debts, the extensive is suitable for grazing
(i.e., cattle )
 Cause
Impropriate irrigation
infiltration >E underground water table rises saliniz
ation ( )

Climatic change
-Global warmingCO2, T , ice cap melt, flooding in
coastal area , rainfall, drought , veg. die

-Less rainfalldrought , veg. die

If the climatic factors are said to be the
main causes of desertification ,then
human activities are going to intensify it.
 Effects on desertification
desertification

Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere

-local climate -water cycle -loss of arable -extinction of

salinization plants &
R breaks down
animals
drought -land intensify the
-biodiversity
-macro climate soil erosion

global warming

Upset the balance of ecosystem

 Effects
Atmosphere
1) Micro
(i)R+T T in day time & T in night
timeET/reflection diurnal range of T
(ii) wind speed no veg cover / shelter
(iii) relative humidity

2)Macro
(i)Global warming
(ii)Sandstormexpanding of desert
 Effects
Lithosphere
1)loss of arable land
soil texture change to sandy cohesive
power (cannot hold water) not suitable for ve
g growth

2)intensify the soil erosion

1. deforestationno root to bind the soil
soil erosion silting
 Effects
Hydrosphere
1)Water cycle breaks down
R & evaporation( no shelter)
rivers and wells dried up

Biosphere
1)lower the bio-diversity
R & unevenly dis.+deforestation
scattered veg. (veg. Is shorter, few
species, less luxuriant)extinction
 Effects

Others
1)lower the income
R crops productivity ,

2)use a large amt of $ for soil protection &

recovery
(i.e. UNCED us$1,060m per yr to recover the
deserted land)
 How to solve???
LDCs
1.Control the pop. growth / natural increase
by using family planning, in order to decre
ase the land use capacity

2.The number of grazing and the rate of culti

vation should not over the carrying capacit
y of land
 How to solve???
3. improve i)farming & ii)grazing methods, i
n other to reduce soil erosion and
salinization
i) suitable timing and amount to carry out irrigation
plant the halophytes (which can adapt salty &
droughted soil) e.g, Chenopodiaceae
ii)sufficient fallowing period
Animal welfare (e.g, Kenya)
 How to solve???
4.Legislation: band the deforestation and over graz
ing, etc. , in order to balance the ecosystem of d
esert.

5.afforestation i.e. plant the wind break trees & dro

ught resistant plants

6.stone lines (e.g, in Burkina Faso)

7. Building reservoir and canal , (e.g, The Indira G

andhi Canal)
 How to solve???
MDCs
1) international aid(e.g.,Green Peace)
technology, low interest rate of loan &
education
2) scientific research e.g World Association of Soil
and Water Conservation (WASWC)
 How to solve???
Both citizens in MDCs & LDCs have
Responsibility

i) Dont buy valuable halophytes (e.g,Fat cho

i)
ii) 5R(reuse, reduce, renew, recycle, rethink)
iii) Fund raising
 Effectiveness
LDCs
1)Money? LDCs are so poor
2)International aid? lack of technology,efficient farming skill
& low education

3)Attitude? X family planning

MDCs
1)Exploitation? try to get more raw materials & resources fr
om LDCs
2)Human behaviour?? rapid in living standard
& large amt of wastes are produced
 Conclusion

The effectiveness of preventing desertification

is depended on the cooperation of MDCs &
LDCs.