The Problem With Desertification

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still provide much of our grain and livestock. These areas cover more than 40 percent of the world’s land surface. As these areas decrease in size, so does the reliability of the land to support the human population. In some areas, desertification is occurring to such a degree that some lands can no longer sustain life. Large regions which have been greatly affected include: the Savannas of Africa, the Great Plains and the Pampas of America, the Steppes of Asia, the Outback of Australia, and the margins of the Mediterranean (World Atlas of Desertification, 1997).
Some of the leading causes of desertification are due to human mismanagement. The four major human factors which lend towards soil degradation are deforestation, overgrazing, agricultural activities, and the overexploitation of vegetation for domestic use.
Deforestation and removal of the natural vegetation cover is defined as the total removal of natural vegetation from stretches of land (World Atlas of ...

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of heaving grazing is the decrease of vegetation cover. This decrease in cover leads to increased water and wind erosion. Over 90 percent of Australia's soil degradation is due to overgrazing. As overgrazing continues to reduce vegetation cover, the landscape becomes barren. During long droughts, the land becomes greatly affected by wind and water erosion.
A big problem with agricultural activities is the introduction of techniques without evaluation of their likely effects (World Atlas of Desertification, 1997). Agricultural activities that lead to degradation includes a wide variety of mismanagement types. These activities include improper use of irrigation water and poor ...

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