Date: 04/07/2022

To: Alaina B. Teplitz

From: Jacob Goddard (Secretary Intern)

Subject: Combating Desertification and Preserving Domestic Farmland

Distribution List: US Department of State

This report addresses the problems and solutions available for desertification in the continental
United States. Desertification, or the conversion of desert-bordering, semi-arid land into infertile
deserts is a problem that every continent in the world faces, including the continent of North
America and the United States. Factors like poor agricultural management, deforestation,
livestock production, climate change, and human expansion has caused the rate of desertification
to increase each year. Specifically in the western United States, overstocking cattle leads to
overgrazing and degradation of vegetative cover, which contributes to desertification and
erosion. Also, excessive withdrawals of groundwater from aquifers like the Ogalalla aquifer to
irrigate crops and supply cities is exceeding the aquifers’ ability to replenish, rapidly lowering
the height of the water table. Common impacts of desertification include soil degradation and
infertility, and increased erosion and wind drift, converting once manageable semi-arid climates
into unproductive and unworkable deserts. On average it takes 1 acre of land to feed 1 person.
Projections suggestion that the world’s population will eclipse 9 billion people by 2050, and with
only 3 billion current acres of farmland to produce enough food for the world, it is imperative
that productive agricultural areas are protected from the risks of desertification.

Paired with responsible agricultural and water usage legislation, anti-erosion techniques and
alternative sources of crop irrigation have shown promise in protecting our workable acres, and
eventually introducing nutrients back into infertile soils. A committee of members from the US
Department of State should be appointed to discuss and act on the numerous threats that the
United States faces through increased desertification. With additional awareness, delegation in
the committee would play a large roll in handling domestic desertification properly and
efficiently.

Summary
Deforestation, livestock production, and excessive groundwater use are the main factors
contributing to increased desertification in the western and southwestern United States.
Techniques utilizing straw grids, sand fences, and bordering tree fences are viable options for
reducing erosion, while harvesting rainfall and seasonal runoff irrigation are alternatives to
excessive usage of underground aquifers. Utilizing these alternative and preventative techniques
and continuing to set in place responsible agricultural regulations are a great starting place in
protecting our domestic farmland.
Protective Measures that Combat Desertification
Anti-erosion Techniques
Individuals and governments at the local level can help protect and reclaim their lands. In areas
where erosion and wind drift have created sand dunes, covering the dunes with petroleum or
even large boulders will interrupt the cross winds and allow the sand to remain in place.
Additionally, throughout the Middle East, sand fences set in place around productive areas have
been proven efficient in providing a barrier against sand drifting onto workable lands.
Installation of straw grids as shown in figure 1, is also a great option. These grids, in an area of
around 1 square meter each, help drastically reduce surface wind velocity and wind drift,
consequently. In areas where irrigation is available, these grids can also protect planted trees and
shrubs until their rooting systems take hold in the soil. Planting said trees and shrubs on the
lower third of sand dunes are an extremely effective way of flattening sand dunes. The foliage
reduces the wind velocity at the base of the dunes, while the higher velocities at the tops of the
dunes level them out, allowing for the continued planting of vegetation along the newly flattened
surfaces.

(Figure 1) Straw grids used to stabilize dunes in China.

Alternative Irrigation
Salinization occurs after irrigation has been applied and is allowed to dry. Introducing increased
levels of salt into the soil will eventually lead to soil infertility. Because of this, finding
alternative irrigation methods and controlling soil salinization are effective tools for reclaiming
arid regions. Designing and sizing rainfall collection systems to collect and store rainfall for
later use is a great option. Additionally, collecting seasonal runoff from neighboring highlands
and storing them for later use would greatly increase the amount of available irrigation water.
Both systems would reduce the need for excessive pumping from underground aquifers, allowing
these systems to replenish themselves and raise the water table.

Conclusion
As the world’s population increases and the amount of farmland available for production
decreases yearly, the effects of desertification must be minimized while protecting productive
areas. Finding new and more effective means of irrigating crops and utilizing anti-erosion
techniques should be as much of a priority as responsible farming regulations throughout the
western United States. With these techniques and an increased consciousness of the effects that
agriculture has on the environment, productive farmland will be more protected, and arid,
unproductive areas can be reclaimed.

Recommendations
A committee of department members should be set in place to make collective decisions on the
causes and effects of desertification in the United States. Responsible and conservative
agricultural legislation should continue to be set in place to ensure proper water usage through all
production systems. Anti-erosion methods as previously discussed should be utilized around
high desertification susceptibility areas like those shown in figure 2. More rainfall collection and
storage systems should also be installed to collect the valuable water that is received between
drought periods, reducing the need for excessive pumping out of underground aquifers.
Research being conducted to find a more effective means of irrigating arid and semiarid regions
should continue to be funded.
 (Figure 2) United States areas vulnerable to desertification.
References
“Desertification.” https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/deserts/desertification/.

“Desertification - Desertification in North America.” Desertification In North America - United,

Arid, Southwestern, and Mesquite - JRank Articles,
https://science.jrank.org/pages/2021/Desertification-Desertification-in-North-
America.html.

“Natural Resources Conservation Service.” NRCS,

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/alphabetical/
international/?cid=stelprdb1043162.