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DESERTIFICATION IN AFRICA
Mogilna Nataliya, Mbelu Stanley Chizoba
Sumy State University, Ukraine
Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas due to various factors: including
climatic variations and human activities.
Desertification is one of the world’s most alarming global environmental problems. It takes place worldwide in dry
lands. At least 90% of the inhabitants of dry lands live in developing countries and they suffer the poorest economic and
social conditions. Dry lands occupy 41% of Earth’s land area and are home to more than 2 billion people. It has been
estimated that some 10–20% of dry lands are already degrade, the total area affected by desertification being between 6 and 12
million square kilometres, that about 1–6% of the inhabitants of dry lands live in desertified areas, and that a billion people
are under threat from further desertification.
Desertification is caused by a combination of factors that change over time and vary by location. Key fac tors such as
human activity and climate variation contributes to the desertification of arid, semiarid and sub -humid land; which will be my
areas of focus.
But desertification is a broad term when talking about the more heightened forms of the degradation of dry land
ecosystems, not to mention the consequences that delay their natural occurrence of their ecosystem services. Many key
processes are related to desertification, “drought, primary production, carrying capacity, soil degradation, and water
resources,” as well as social impacts to the ecosystem.
The objective of this paper is to clarify the definition of desertification and its causes and effects of processes set off b y
climate variability and human practices.
CAUSES:
They have difficult socio-economic conditions, insufficient institutional and legal frameworks, incomplete
infrastructure, and weak scientific, technical, and educational capacities.
Cultivation of marginal lands, i.e. lands on which there is a high risk of crop failure and a very lo w economic return,
for example, some parts of South Africa where maize is grown.
Destruction of vegetation in arid regions, often for fuel wood.
Poor grazing management after accidental burning of semi-arid vegetation.
Incorrect irrigation practices in arid areas can cause Salinisation, (the build up of salts in the soil) which can prevent
plant growth.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
1. Afforestation, that is re-planting trees, especially in shelter belts. Planting grasses can help stabilise the soil and cut
down on erosion by wind and rain.
2. Also terracing the land to slow down the water running off will make better use of the rain that does fall.
3. By August 2005, 30 African countries finalized, validated and adopted their National Action Programmes. These
countries are Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya,
Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan,
Swaziland, the United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
4. Poor irrigation Make sure the water is not evaporated on the surface which wastes water and increases its salinity.
5. Planting leguminous plants to restore nitrogen in the soil
6. Spraying croplands with petroleum to protect seeds from blowing away and to retain moisture.
7. Create windbreaks.
8. Solar ovens to replace firewood.
9. Individuals and government to reclaim and protect lands.
10. Sand fences to reduce wind velocity.
11. Control over off-road vehicles.
12. Develop an ecosystem management plan.
13. Culture of Prevention.
14. Water management.
15. Mixed farming practices.
16. Capital Investment.
17. Access of Information.
Two thirds of the African continent is desert or dry lands. There are extensive agricultural dry lands, almost three
quarters of which are already degraded to some degree. The region is afflicted by frequent and severe droughts.
Many African countries are landlocked, have widespread poverty, need external assistance, and depend heavily on
natural resources for subsistence.