Topic: Desertification and its major causes

Subject: Geography of arid lands

Submitted to: Dr. Sher Muhammad Malik

Submitted by: Balakh Shair

Roll No. 03
 Desertification
Desert:-
A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation
occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant
and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected
surface of the ground to the processes of denudation.
World Major Deserts:-
Approximately one-third of the Earth’s land surface is desert,
arid land with meager rainfall that supports only sparse
vegetation and a limited population of people and animals.
What is desertification?
Desertification is a type of land degradation in which a
relatively dry land region becomes increasingly arid, typically
losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife. It is
caused by a variety of factors. Desertification is a significant
global ecological and environmental problem.
Categories of desertification:-
Following are the major categories of desertification.
Light desertification:- In this type of desertification, a very
slight damage occurs in vegetation cover and soil. This damage
does not affect the biological capacity of the environment and
can be neglected.
Moderate desertification:- A medium degree of damage of
vegetation cover occurs and formation of small sand dunes and
salinization of the soil which reduces production by 10-25%.
Severe desertification:- In this type spreading of weeds and
unwanted shrubs in the pasture at the expense of desirable and
wanted species occur as well as increasing of the erosion
activity which affect the vegetation cover and reduces
production up to 50%.
Very severe desertification:- In this type composition of
active naked great sand dunes occurs and formation of many
grooves and valleys and the salinization of the soil which leads
to soil degradation. It is the most serious type of desertification.

Causes of desertification:-
Following are the main factors in desertification.
i. Overgrazing
ii. Over cultivation
iii. Trees used for fuel and shelter
iv. Urbanization
v. Climate changes
i). Overgrazing:-
• Too many animals grazing on the land
• Animals eat all the
vegetation
• Vegetation fails to grow
• Soil is exposed to rain and
wind
• Soil is washed and blown
away
ii). Over cultivation:-
• Many crops being grown on the land year after year
• No rotation of crops
• Crops take all the nutrients from the soil
 • The soil become infertile and nothing can grow
• Because there are no crops to protect the soil, the soil is
easily eroded by wind and water
iii). Trees used for fuel and shelter:-
• There are few trees in the desert and there roots hold the
soil together.
• When the trees are removed for firewood or to build the
shelter the roots die and soil become lose.
• Yet again this means the soil can be easily blown or
washed away.
iv). Urbanization:-
• Development can cause people to go through and kill the
plant life.
• Cause issues with the
soil due to chemicals
and other things that
may harm the ground.
• Areas become more
urbanized, there are
fewer places for plants
to grow, thus causing
desertification.
v). Climate changes:-
• A long period without
rainfall.
• Causes crops to die.
• When days get warmer and
periods of drought become
more frequent
• Lack of food.