Desertification

West Africa,Sahel
Du Han Yuan 2O404
Leon Twang 2O428

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Desertification-a degradation of land in
arid and semi-arid areas, caused by
natural , human activities and climate
change
Human causes

Incorrect irrigation practices in arid
areas

Overgrazing

Cultivation of marginal lands- where
there is a high risk of crop failure and
a very low economic return

Destruction of vegetation in arid
regions
Natural Causes

Soil erosion

global climate change

forest fires

droughts
Consequences of desertification

Dry rivers

Flash floods

Growth of desert

Loss of plants and animals

Famine

Infertile land
Causes of Desertification in
Sahel

the fragile ecological zone of Sahel
was unable to sustain its growing
population

increased pressure on the land
increased the number of droughts

collectively owned land led to
deforestation as well as overgrazing

without trees, the soil breaks down
easily, gradually turning the area into
 Situation
Sahel in West Africa has been facing
•
Poor rain over the past few decades
•
Soil becoming less fertile
•
Soil erosion due to the lack of plants
and fewer crops
•
Famine
 Solutions to desertification
in Sahel
•
The government has to be willing to
try and combat the problem, and
gain the participation of the
population.
•
The number of animals on the land
must be decreased
•
Reseeding in bad areas
•
Enforce good land areas in semi-arid
areas
 Bibliography
•
http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2006-07/2006-07-31-voa38.cfm?CFID=1

•
http://www.eden-foundation.org/project/desertif.html

•
http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/oceanography-book/desertificationinsahel.

•
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertification

•
http://home.ica.net/~drw/env/d-page~3.htm

•
http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/envFacts/facts/desertification.htm

•
http://www.perc.org/articles/article142.php