Combating Combating DesertificationDesertification
EducationEducationalal
ToolkitToolkit
Why this package for schoolsWhy this package for schools?? A Resource that compliments the Geo-A Resource that compliments the Geo-
Ecology Unit 7 & Unit 6 Global Ecology Unit 7 & Unit 6 Global InterdependenceInterdependence
To Raise Awareness of Desertification To Raise Awareness of Desertification among Studentsamong Students
To Explain the Concept of DesertificationTo Explain the Concept of Desertification To Encourage Local Action to Combat To Encourage Local Action to Combat
DesertificationDesertification To Demonstrate that Desertification can To Demonstrate that Desertification can
be Tackledbe Tackled
Section OneSection One After completing this section students After completing this section students
will have explored the following:will have explored the following:
Concept of desertificationConcept of desertification Main areas where desertification Main areas where desertification
occursoccurs Direct causes of desertificationDirect causes of desertification Indirect causes of desertificationIndirect causes of desertification
United Nations DefinitionUnited Nations Definition
‘ ‘land degradation in arid, semi-arid land degradation in arid, semi-arid and sub humid areas resulting from and sub humid areas resulting from various factors including climatic various factors including climatic variations and human activities’variations and human activities’
Where does desertification occur?Where does desertification occur?
Two belts centred on the Tropics of Two belts centred on the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn Cancer and Capricorn
North American Plains and parts of North American Plains and parts of Central Asia - both in rain shadows of Central Asia - both in rain shadows of mountainsmountains
Some Some European countries particularly European countries particularly those near the those near the MediterraneanMediterranean
Major Global ConcernMajor Global Concern Desertification is a major global Desertification is a major global
concern because of the link between concern because of the link between dryland degradation and dryland degradation and a decline ina decline in food productionfood production
Declaration of 2006 as the Declaration of 2006 as the International Year of Deserts and International Year of Deserts and Desertification (IYDD) highlighted Desertification (IYDD) highlighted this concernthis concern
Frightening FactsFrightening Facts
In Nigeria - 351,000 hectares of land turns In Nigeria - 351,000 hectares of land turns into desert each yearinto desert each year
In Niger - 250,000 hectares lost each year In Niger - 250,000 hectares lost each year through desertification = area of through desertification = area of LuxembourgLuxembourg
5 warmest years in the last century 5 warmest years in the last century occurred since 1998. occurred since 1998. Warmest 2005Warmest 2005, , then 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2004then 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2004
Direct Causes – Human ActivitiesDirect Causes – Human Activities
OvergrazingOvergrazing removes vegetation cover removes vegetation cover OvercultivationOvercultivation exhausts the soil exhausts the soil DeforestationDeforestation destroys the trees that destroys the trees that
protect the soil protect the soil PoorlyPoorly drained irrigationdrained irrigation systems turn systems turn
croplands salty croplands salty
Climatic Causes Climatic Causes
Low rainfall that is infrequent & Low rainfall that is infrequent & irregularirregular
Large variations between day and Large variations between day and night-time temperaturesnight-time temperatures
Global WarmingGlobal Warming DroughtsDroughts
Indirect CausesIndirect Causes
1.1. Loss of traditional knowledgeLoss of traditional knowledge
2.2. Cash CropsCash Crops
3.3. PovertyPoverty
4.4. PopulationPopulation
5.5. Gender BiasGender Bias
1 - Loss of traditional knowledge1 - Loss of traditional knowledge
Driest lands reserved for nomadic herdingDriest lands reserved for nomadic herding Rainfed crops where > 350-400mm of Rainfed crops where > 350-400mm of
rainfallrainfall Different crops - reduce risk of crop failureDifferent crops - reduce risk of crop failure Fallow periodsFallow periods Pastoralists and sedentary farmers Pastoralists and sedentary farmers
bartered meat and milk for cereal and bartered meat and milk for cereal and legumes legumes
2 - Cash Crops2 - Cash Crops
Need for foreign exchange to pay debtsNeed for foreign exchange to pay debts Led to increase in cash crops, leading to:Led to increase in cash crops, leading to:
expansion of cropping onto marginal land. expansion of cropping onto marginal land. monoculture - causes soil degradationmonoculture - causes soil degradation exploitation of local resources - leaves little exploitation of local resources - leaves little
profit in community for caring for the landprofit in community for caring for the land
3 - Poverty3 - Poverty
Desertification - cause and Desertification - cause and consequence of povertyconsequence of poverty
Poor peoplePoor people farm degraded land that farm degraded land that is unable to meet their needsis unable to meet their needs
Land becomes more Land becomes more degraded/desertified degraded/desertified
People forced into internal and cross-People forced into internal and cross-border migrations - further strain on border migrations - further strain on the environmentthe environment
4 - Population4 - Population
Population of the Sahel increased Population of the Sahel increased from 274 to 628 million from 1968 to from 274 to 628 million from 1968 to 19981998
Population growth combined with Population growth combined with bad land management can lead to bad land management can lead to desertificationdesertification
Urban populations place food Urban populations place food demands on rural areas demands on rural areas
Population Increase Success StoryPopulation Increase Success Story Akamba people in semi-arid Machatos Akamba people in semi-arid Machatos
district, Kenya - despite six-fold population district, Kenya - despite six-fold population increase (1930 and 1990): increase (1930 and 1990):
Increased food production on per capita & Increased food production on per capita & per hectare basisper hectare basis
Reversed the degradation of natural Reversed the degradation of natural resources resources
Achieved through farmer-led innovations Achieved through farmer-led innovations in terrace constructionin terrace construction
5 - Gender Bias5 - Gender Bias
Men have most access to land and Men have most access to land and credit credit
Plant cash crops - often on land where Plant cash crops - often on land where women had formerly grown foodwomen had formerly grown food
Gender bias keeps population high - Gender bias keeps population high - denies women economic security denies women economic security other than childbearingother than childbearing
Contributes to PovertyContributes to Poverty
Section TwoSection Two
After completing section two After completing section two students will have explored:students will have explored:
The consequences of desertificationThe consequences of desertification Solutions to the problemSolutions to the problem
Consequences of DesertificationConsequences of Desertification 24 billion tons of topsoil lost every year24 billion tons of topsoil lost every year Decline in Food ProductionDecline in Food Production PovertyPoverty Unattained Millennium Development Goals Unattained Millennium Development Goals
MigrationMigration Flash FloodsFlash Floods Economic LossEconomic Loss
The SolutionsThe Solutions Raising Awareness Planting Indigenous Trees Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Energy Empowering Women Involving Local People Developing Local Crops & Markets
Raising Awareness Convention to Combat DesertificationConvention to Combat Desertification Adopted 17 June 1994 Adopted 17 June 1994 World Day to Combat Desertification World Day to Combat Desertification
and Drought observed each 17 Juneand Drought observed each 17 June 2006 = International Year of Deserts 2006 = International Year of Deserts
and Desertification (IYDD)and Desertification (IYDD) Schools can raiseSchools can raise awareness among awareness among
young peopleyoung people
Benefit of TreesBenefit of Trees Stabilise the soil Protect soil from sunshine, winds and
the progression of sand Intercept rainfall & stop splash
erosion Retain moisture Replenish soil nutrients Absorb carbon dioxide Absorb carbon dioxide
Planting Indigenous Trees
Adapted to local situations Adapted to local situations Woody desert trees evade drought Woody desert trees evade drought
by shedding leaves as dry season by shedding leaves as dry season sets in sets in
Deep taproots explore deep water Deep taproots explore deep water layers layers
Leguminous species improve soil Leguminous species improve soil fertilityfertility
Sustainable Agriculture
AgroforestryAgroforestry - -integrates high-value integrates high-value multi-purpose trees into farming multi-purpose trees into farming systemssystems
Fruit trees for nutritionFruit trees for nutrition Gum, oil and medicine trees for Gum, oil and medicine trees for
incomeincome Palatable protein-rich trees for fodderPalatable protein-rich trees for fodder Intercropping Intercropping Fallow periodsFallow periods
Sustainable Energy
Ensuring energy supply for present and Ensuring energy supply for present and future generations while protecting the future generations while protecting the environmentenvironment
82% of energy used in Sahel is from wood82% of energy used in Sahel is from wood Pressure on vegetation reduced through Pressure on vegetation reduced through
alternative sources of energyalternative sources of energy Efficiency of existing energy useEfficiency of existing energy use Improved ovens with slow-burning woodImproved ovens with slow-burning wood
Involving Local People
People who understand local ecosystems & People who understand local ecosystems & experience desertification should be involved experience desertification should be involved in decisions about rehabilitating the soilin decisions about rehabilitating the soil
Environmentalists often focus on Environmentalists often focus on “conservation” while ignoring the needs of “conservation” while ignoring the needs of poor people poor people
Conservation efforts resisted by poor peopleConservation efforts resisted by poor people Inappropriate technology Inappropriate technology
Empowering Women
Main providers of food, fuel, and Main providers of food, fuel, and water for their families water for their families
Investing in women is the best way Investing in women is the best way to increase food security, reduce to increase food security, reduce population growth and relieve population growth and relieve pressure on the environment.pressure on the environment.
Developing Local Crops
Local crops best suited to local Local crops best suited to local situationssituations
Drought-resistant and salt-resistant Drought-resistant and salt-resistant cropscrops
Promotion of local plants – even Promotion of local plants – even those not already domesticatedthose not already domesticated
Developing Local Markets
Encourage trade and production of Encourage trade and production of local goods - agricultural and non-local goods - agricultural and non-agriculturalagricultural
Exporting unprocessed commodities Exporting unprocessed commodities has a detrimental effect on local has a detrimental effect on local economieseconomies
Comhlamh Trade Justice Group Comhlamh Trade Justice Group campaigns to “make trade fair” for campaigns to “make trade fair” for poorer countries poorer countries
Section ThreeSection Three After completing section three students After completing section three students
will have explored: will have explored: How desertification links with United How desertification links with United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and with the Convention on Change and with the Convention on Biological DiversityBiological Diversity
Soil saving initiatives around the worldSoil saving initiatives around the world Vegetation of the Dune ecosystem – Irish Vegetation of the Dune ecosystem – Irish
StudyStudy Positive Action - what can we doPositive Action - what can we do??
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