MUTSIMBA

BLESSED MUNASHE

REGISTRATION NUMBER:
12305437

SSC 311 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

A RESEARCH ON DESERTIFICATION
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
WHAT IS DESERTIFICATION?
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF DESERTIFICATION?
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF DESERTIFICATION?
WHAT ARE THE MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO REDUCE DESERTIFICATION?
COUNTRIES WHICH ARE MOSTLY AFFECTED BY DESERTIFICATION.
What is desertification?
Desertification is the degradation process by which a fertile land changes itself into a desert by losing
its flora and fauna, this can be caused by drought, deforestation, climate change, human activities or
improper agriculture. Desertification is a process of degradation of the land.
27 to 43% of the land areas in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru are at risk due to desertification. In
Argentina, Mexico and Paraguay greater than half the land area is degraded by desertification and
cannot be used for agriculture.

Geographic areas most affected include the Sahel region in Africa, the Gobi Desert and Mongolia in
Asia as well as parts of South America. Drylands occupy approximately 40–41% of Earth's land area
and are home to more than 2 billion people.

What are the causes of desertification

Natural causes of desertification.
1. Climate Variability and Change:
 Droughts: Extended periods of reduced rainfall or precipitation deficiency can lead
to soil moisture depletion and vegetation stress, resulting in desertification. Droughts
are a natural phenomenon influenced by climatic patterns such as El Niño-Southern
Oscillation (ENSO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO).
 Temperature Extremes: High temperatures accelerate evaporation rates, leading to
soil desiccation and reduced water availability for plants. Moreover, extreme heat can
alter ecosystems, making them more susceptible to degradation.
2. Geomorphological Factors:
 Wind Erosion: In arid and semi-arid regions, wind erosion is a significant natural
process that redistributes soil particles and can lead to land degradation. Windstorms
can strip away topsoil, exposing the land to further degradation and hindering plant
growth.
 Water Erosion: Although less common in arid areas, intense rainfall events can
cause flash floods and water erosion, leading to the loss of fertile topsoil and
exacerbating desertification processes.
3. Vegetation Dynamics:
 Natural Succession: Ecological succession, a natural process of vegetation change
over time, can result in the transition from grasslands or shrublands to less productive
desert ecosystems. This transition can be accelerated by disturbances such as fire or
grazing pressure from herbivores.
 Invasive Species: Introduction of invasive plant species can alter ecosystem
dynamics, outcompeting native vegetation and reducing biodiversity. Invasive species
such as tumbleweed or mesquite can exacerbate desertification by further degrading
soil quality and water availability.
4. Tectonic and Geological Processes:
 Geological Subsidence: Subsidence caused by tectonic activity or geological
processes can alter hydrological patterns, leading to changes in water availability and
soil stability. This can exacerbate desertification in affected areas by disrupting
natural drainage systems and increasing soil salinization.
5. Climatic Feedback Mechanisms:
 Albedo Effect: As desertification progresses, the land surface becomes more
reflective (higher albedo), leading to increased solar radiation absorption and heat
retention in the atmosphere. This can further exacerbate regional climate patterns,
leading to feedback loops that perpetuate arid conditions.
Human cause of desertification
1. Deforestation: One of the primary human causes of desertification is deforestation, which
involves the removal of trees and vegetation cover. Trees play a crucial role in maintaining
soil structure and moisture levels. When forests are cleared for agriculture, logging,
urbanization, or fuelwood extraction, the land becomes more vulnerable to erosion, soil
degradation, and loss of biodiversity. Without the protective cover of trees, the soil is exposed
to the harsh effects of wind and water erosion, leading to desertification.
2. Overgrazing: Overgrazing occurs when livestock consume vegetation at a rate that exceeds
its natural regrowth, depleting the plant cover and exposing the soil to erosion. Many regions
around the world rely heavily on livestock grazing for livelihoods and food production.
However, unsustainable grazing practices, such as allowing animals to graze continuously
without proper rest periods or rotational grazing, can degrade rangelands and contribute to
desertification. Overgrazing not only reduces vegetation cover but also disrupts soil structure,
increases soil compaction, and accelerates erosion processes.
3. Unsustainable Agricultural Practices: Intensive agricultural practices, such as monoculture
farming, excessive tillage, and improper irrigation methods, can contribute to desertification.
Monoculture farming, which involves growing a single crop species over large area, depletes
soil nutrients, increases susceptibility to pests and diseases, and reduces soil biodiversity.
Excessive tillage disrupts soil structure, accelerates erosion, and decreases soil organic matter
content. Improper irrigation techniques, such as inefficient water management or excessive
water extraction from aquifers, can lead to soil salinization and waterlogging, rendering the
land unsuitable for cultivation.
4. Urbanization and Infrastructure Development: Rapid urbanization and infrastructure
development often result in the conversion of natural landscapes into impervious surfaces,
such as roads, buildings, and parking lots. This process, known as soil sealing, prevents water
infiltration and reduces the natural recharge of groundwater. Urban expansion also leads to
habitat fragmentation, loss of biodiversity, and increased surface runoff, exacerbating soil
erosion and desertification in surrounding areas.
5. Climate Change: While not directly caused by humans, anthropogenic climate change
amplifies the processes of desertification. Rising temperatures, changes in precipitation
patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, alter
ecosystems and exacerbate soil degradation. Climate change intensifies the frequency and
severity of droughts, which reduce vegetation cover, deplete soil moisture, and increase the
risk of desertification in arid and semi-arid regions.
6. Population Growth and Land Pressure: Rapid population growth and associated land
pressure drive the expansion of agricultural land, urban areas, and infrastructure, leading to
increased land degradation and desertification. Growing populations demand more food,
water, and resources, putting additional stress on fragile ecosystems. In many developing
countries, land degradation and desertification exacerbate poverty, food insecurity, and rural-
to-urban migration, perpetuating a cycle of environmental degradation and social
vulnerability.
What are the effects of desertification
1. Loss of Arable Land: One of the most immediate impacts of desertification is the loss of
fertile soil and arable land. As land becomes drier and less productive, it becomes
increasingly difficult for farmers to grow crops, leading to decreased agricultural productivity
and food insecurity.
2. Ecosystem Disruption: Desertification disrupts ecosystems, leading to loss of biodiversity
and habitat destruction. Many plant and animal species that are adapted to specific
environmental conditions may not be able to survive in the newly arid and degraded
landscape, leading to population declines and even extinction.
3. Soil Erosion: With the loss of vegetation cover, soil becomes more susceptible to erosion by
wind and water. This further degrades the land, making it even more difficult for plants to
establish themselves and for soil to retain nutrients and moisture.
4. Decline in Water Quality and Availability: Desertification often leads to a decrease in water
quality and availability. As vegetation cover diminishes, there are fewer plants to absorb and
retain water, leading to increased runoff and soil erosion. This can result in sedimentation and
pollution of water bodies, as well as reduced groundwater recharge.
5. Climate Change: Desertification can contribute to climate change and exacerbate its effects.
The loss of vegetation reduces the land's ability to sequester carbon dioxide, leading to
increased greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, desertification can alter local and regional
climate patterns, leading to changes in temperature, precipitation, and weather extremes.
6. Loss of Livelihoods: Desertification threatens the livelihoods of millions of people,
particularly those who depend directly on the land for agriculture, grazing, and other natural
resources. As land becomes less productive, farmers and pastoralists may be forced to migrate
in search of alternative sources of income, leading to social unrest and conflict.
7. Human Health Impacts: Desertification can have significant impacts on human health.
Reduced access to clean water and nutritious food can lead to malnutrition and foodborne
illnesses. Dust storms, which are more common in degraded landscapes, can exacerbate
respiratory problems and spread infectious diseases.
8. Economic Costs: The economic costs of desertification are substantial, both in terms of direct
losses to agriculture and other industries, as well as the expenses associated with mitigating
and adapting to its effects. Governments and communities must invest in measures such as
reforestation, soil conservation, and water management to combat desertification, which can
strain already limited resources.
9. Sand and dust storms: There has been a 25% increase in global annual dust emissions
between the late nineteenth century to present day. The increase of desertification has also
increased the amount of loose sand and dust that the wind can pick up ultimately resulting in a
storm. For example: dust storms in the Middle East are becoming more frequent and intense
in recent years because long-term reductions in rainfall causing lower soil moisture and
vegetative cover. Dust and sand storms can have a negative effect on the climate which can
make desertification worse. Dust particles in the air scatter incoming radiation from the sun
(Hassan, 2012). The dust can provide momentary coverage for the ground temperature, but
the atmospheric temperature will increase. This can disform and shorten the life time of
clouds which can result in less rainfall.
10. Food insecurity: Global food security is being threatened by desertification. The more that
population grows, the more food that must be grown. The agricultural business is being
displaced from one country to another. For example, Europe on average imports over 50% of
its food. Meanwhile, 44% of agricultural land is in dry lands and it supplies 60% of the
world's food production. Desertification is decreasing the amount of sustainable land for
agricultural uses, but demands are continuously growing. Soon, the demands will overcome
the supply. The violent herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria, Sudan, Mali and other countries in
the Sahel region have been exacerbated by climate change, land degradation and population
growth.