DesertificationDesertification

Caitlin HustonCaitlin Huston5/25/075/25/071st hour1st hour

DefinitionDefinition

Desertification is theDesertification is thedegradation of land indegradation of land inarid,semi arid and sub-arid,semi arid and sub-humid areashumid areas

It turns productive desertIt turns productive desertinto non-productive desertinto non-productive desert

Desertification mainlyDesertification mainlyoccurs due to poor landoccurs due to poor landmanagementmanagement

Brief Background Brief Background Desertification is causedDesertification is caused

by: Overgrazing,Cultivationby: Overgrazing,Cultivationon bad farm land,on bad farm land,Destruction ofDestruction ofvegetation,Over-cutting ofvegetation,Over-cutting ofwood, and incorrectwood, and incorrectirrigation practicesirrigation practices

When drought occurs, theWhen drought occurs, theeffects worseneffects worsen

Term became well knownTerm became well knownin the 1930in the 1930’’s, during thes, during the““Dust BowlDust Bowl”” in the U.S. in the U.S.

Background Cont.Background Cont. Regular stock movement helpedRegular stock movement helped

prevent desertification, butprevent desertification, butfencing has prevented thefencing has prevented theanimals movementanimals movement

Man made waterholes andMan made waterholes andwindmills have also preventedwindmills have also preventedanimal movement, and causeanimal movement, and causeover-grazingover-grazing

The large human population,The large human population,and high poverty level alsoand high poverty level alsocauses people to overuse theircauses people to overuse theirenvironmentenvironment

SignificanceSignificance Desertification reduces theDesertification reduces the

ability of land to support life.ability of land to support life. Desertification reduces plantDesertification reduces plant

cover, which leads to soilcover, which leads to soilerosion. The reduced cover alsoerosion. The reduced cover alsocauses more frequent andcauses more frequent andsevere flooding, and sandsevere flooding, and sandstorms.storms.

Loss of soil nutrients, andLoss of soil nutrients, andvegetation undermines foodvegetation undermines foodproduction, and can contributeproduction, and can contributeto famine.to famine.

Can increase temperatures inCan increase temperatures inthe regions due to greenhousethe regions due to greenhousegas emissions.gas emissions.

Significance Cont.Significance Cont.

Reduces regionalReduces regionalprecipitation.precipitation.

Less topsoil canLess topsoil canlessen the availabilitylessen the availabilityof water.of water.

Can cause a drought.Can cause a drought. Less plant cover canLess plant cover can

reduce the amount ofreduce the amount ofCarbon DioxideCarbon Dioxideremoved.removed.

The Sahara DesertThe Sahara Desert The Sahara Desert The Sahara Desert is advancing 5-is advancing 5-

10 km a year.10 km a year. The desert has winds up to 100The desert has winds up to 100

km/h and has a hottest temperaturekm/h and has a hottest temperatureof 135 degrees F.of 135 degrees F.

The desert receives less thanThe desert receives less than25mm a year.25mm a year.

The high winds cause the sandThe high winds cause the sanddunes to move great distances, anddunes to move great distances, anddisrupts the disrupts the Sahel Sahel and the farms ofand the farms ofthe area.the area.

The animals developedThe animals developedmechanisms to conserve water duemechanisms to conserve water dueto the extreme aridity, and haveto the extreme aridity, and havevery little food.very little food.

The decimation of vegetation causeThe decimation of vegetation causewidespread hunger in thewidespread hunger in thesurrounding areas.surrounding areas.

The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl In the 1930In the 1930’’s, the U.S.s, the U.S.

experienced greatexperienced greatdesertification in the Greatdesertification in the GreatPlains.Plains.

This was due to drought andThis was due to drought andpoor farming methods.poor farming methods.

The soil became dust, and blewThe soil became dust, and blewacross the region in large dustacross the region in large duststorms.storms.

The storms were laterThe storms were lateraccompanied by dirt storms andaccompanied by dirt storms andmassive flooding/massive flooding/

Millions of people had toMillions of people had toabandon homes, because foodabandon homes, because foodand water were scarce.and water were scarce.

StatisticsStatistics Worldwide desertificationWorldwide desertification

is making 12 millionis making 12 millionhectares useless forhectares useless forcultivationcultivation

= 87% of cultivated lands = 87% of cultivated landsin the countryin the country

61%+ of all productive dry61%+ of all productive drylands are moderately-lands are moderately-severely desertified.severely desertified.

Global warming willGlobal warming willincrease areas of desertincrease areas of desertclimates by 17%climates by 17%

OutcomesOutcomes Once started, desertification isOnce started, desertification is

impossible to reverseimpossible to reverse 4.5 billion dollars will have to be4.5 billion dollars will have to be

spent every year for 20 years tospent every year for 20 years toprevent it.prevent it.

Desertification is relativelyDesertification is relativelystabilized in the U.S., but it isstabilized in the U.S., but it isspreading in other countries.spreading in other countries.

Unchecked, desertification canUnchecked, desertification cancause more farm land tocause more farm land tobecome unusable, and leavebecome unusable, and leavepeople with very little food andpeople with very little food andwater.water.

It will also increase the numberIt will also increase the numberof arid regions in the world if itof arid regions in the world if itcontinues.continues.

Possible SolutionsPossible Solutions Reduce the numbers of animalsReduce the numbers of animals

on the land - allows plants to re-on the land - allows plants to re-growgrow

Cover sand dunes with largeCover sand dunes with largeboulders or petroleum- windboulders or petroleum- windbarrierbarrier

Use sand fences or straw gridsUse sand fences or straw gridswhich decrease wind velocitywhich decrease wind velocity

Plant tree fences or grass belts-Plant tree fences or grass belts-stops sandstops sand

Become more efficient in ourBecome more efficient in ouruse of water resourcesuse of water resources

Personnel SuggestionsPersonnel Suggestions Farmers should be educatedFarmers should be educated

about the effects ofabout the effects ofDesertification and control theirDesertification and control theiranimals grazing.animals grazing.

People in general should bePeople in general should bemore informed on the problem.more informed on the problem.

Citizens should write to theirCitizens should write to theirlocal congressmen to suggest alocal congressmen to suggest awater control bill.water control bill.

New irrigation systems shouldNew irrigation systems shouldbe researched for the aridbe researched for the aridregions in the world.regions in the world.

CitationsCitations BonnefieldBonnefield, Paul. "1930's Dust Bowl." 1930's Dust Bowl. 26 May 2007, Paul. "1930's Dust Bowl." 1930's Dust Bowl. 26 May 2007

<http://www.<http://www.ptsiptsi.net/user/museum/dustbowl.html>..net/user/museum/dustbowl.html>. "Desertification." Desertification. 22 May 2007"Desertification." Desertification. 22 May 2007

<http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/Envfacts/facts/desertification>.<http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/Envfacts/facts/desertification>. "Desertification- A threat to the Sahel." Eden Foundation. Aug. 1994."Desertification- A threat to the Sahel." Eden Foundation. Aug. 1994.

26 May 2007 <http://www.Eden-foundatoin.org/project/26 May 2007 <http://www.Eden-foundatoin.org/project/desertifdesertif.html>..html>. "Desertification.""Desertification." Wikipedia Wikipedia. 22 May 2007. 22 May 2007

<www.<www.wikipediawikipedia.org/.org/wikiwiki/desertification>./desertification>. "Desertification." Fact Sheet. 24 May 2007"Desertification." Fact Sheet. 24 May 2007

<http://www.<http://www.yptencyptenc.org..org.ukuk/docs//docs/factsheetsfactsheets//envenv_facts/desertification.ht_facts/desertification.html>.ml>.

Olsson,Olsson, Lennart Lennart. "Do human's cause deserts?" The Geographical. "Do human's cause deserts?" The GeographicalReview 1 July 2003.Review 1 July 2003.