Rural Land DegradationRural Land Degradation

Higher GeographyHigher Geography

ApplicationsApplications

Key IdeaKey Idea

►Rural land resources are subject to Rural land resources are subject to degradation, which may be the result degradation, which may be the result of natural processes, human activity or of natural processes, human activity or a combination of both.a combination of both.

►The decline in land productivity & The decline in land productivity & other consequences have led to the other consequences have led to the development of soil conservation and development of soil conservation and land management strategies.land management strategies.

What do you need to know? What do you need to know? (1)(1)

► The nature and processes of soil erosion and The nature and processes of soil erosion and degradation (desertification) and the impact degradation (desertification) and the impact of vegetation removal.of vegetation removal.

► The effects of climate and its variability on The effects of climate and its variability on these processes, problems posed by climatic these processes, problems posed by climatic variability in North Africa, the variable variability in North Africa, the variable movement of Inter Tropical Convergence movement of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) across Africa north of the Zone (ITCZ) across Africa north of the Equator and the intensity of rainfall in the Equator and the intensity of rainfall in the tropics.tropics.

What do you need to know? What do you need to know? (2)(2)

► The modification of ecosystems caused by The modification of ecosystems caused by human activity, deforestation, monoculture, human activity, deforestation, monoculture, over cultivation, overgrazing, inappropriate over cultivation, overgrazing, inappropriate cultivation and irrigation techniques.cultivation and irrigation techniques.

► The consequences of soil erosion and The consequences of soil erosion and degradation (deforestation) including the degradation (deforestation) including the physical impact on the landscape and the physical impact on the landscape and the climate, social impact on people and climate, social impact on people and economic impact on ways of life.economic impact on ways of life.

What do you need to know? What do you need to know? (3)(3)

►Specific examples on soil conservation Specific examples on soil conservation and land management strategies; case and land management strategies; case studies from the selected areas, eg: studies from the selected areas, eg: Magic Stones (Burkina Faso)Magic Stones (Burkina Faso)

Don’t Don’t panic!panic!

IntroductionIntroduction

►Land degradation is most common in Land degradation is most common in Tropical and Sub-Tropical areas (20°-Tropical and Sub-Tropical areas (20°-30° North and South of the Equator).30° North and South of the Equator).

►Degradation occurs mainly on the west Degradation occurs mainly on the west sides of continents, where frequent sides of continents, where frequent dry winds cause prolonged periods of dry winds cause prolonged periods of drought.drought.

Distribution of Principal Areas of Degradation & Desertification

Key: Very Severe

Severe

Moderate

Slight

The UN Environmental Programme The UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) estimates that 35% of all land (UNEP) estimates that 35% of all land

is at risk from degradation.is at risk from degradation.

More than 75 billion tonnes of soil are More than 75 billion tonnes of soil are washed into the sea or swept away by washed into the sea or swept away by the wind each year and can never be the wind each year and can never be

replaced.replaced.

6 million tonnes of land is lost to desert 6 million tonnes of land is lost to desert each year.each year.

100 countries, 1 in 5 of the world’s 100 countries, 1 in 5 of the world’s population, are affected by land population, are affected by land

degradation.degradation.

Degradation is a global problem.Degradation is a global problem.