Understanding Desertification: Causes, Effects, and Solutions, Slides of Biology

Download Understanding Desertification: Causes, Effects, and Solutions and more Slides Biology in PDF only on Docsity! Environmental Education Desertification Docsity.com Contents • What is “desertification”? • Causes of desertification – Climate – Human activities • Problems • Combat desertification Docsity.com Causes of “desertification”: climate • Climate fluctuations – occur to any or all atmospheric variables • e.g. precipitation, temperature, wind speed and direction, evaporation, etc. – alter ecosystem → affect societal activities (may be improper practices) – in dry periods: • climate fluctuations + improper land-use → desertification • Climate change – a long-term change in average climates status – DROUGHT -- major cause • Transformation in landforms, soils, and vegetation Docsity.com Causes of desertification: human activities • Increase the loss of vegetation on soil → soil erosion • Example of human activities increasing soil erosion – overgrazing – deforestation – burn and splash – surface mining without land reclamation – improper irrigation techniques – farming on unsuitable land or soil – soil compaction (e.g. by farm machinery and cattle hoofs) Docsity.com Problems • Loss of arable land – most serious consequence – decreases production of food → famine • Income loss – income loss because of lower food productivity, spending on protection measures, corrective measure and rehabilitation • A spreading problem – soil erosion + siltation → affect water regimes of nearby regions → spread of desertification • Loss of biodiversity – damage of original habitats → species cannot survive → loss of biodiversity – most pronounced in dry margins Docsity.com Discussion • Imagine: What problems will be caused by desertification in our diary life? • How does desertification affect economy? • Compare human activities and climate factors on desertification. • Can you think of any others measures to deal with desertification? Docsity.com Relevant Websites [1] • The Office to Combat Desertification and Drought, UNSO http://www.undp.org/seed/unso/ • Desertification http://hpcup.tecom.ntu.edu.tw/product/eq064/s.html • Muzi News –Desertification in China fastens its rate – (http://news.muzi.com/news.shtml?l=fanti&a=express& p=1066639) • Muzi News – China plans to have control measures over desertification in North – (http://news.muzi.com/ll/fanti/1037859.shtml) Docsity.com Relevant Websites [2] • Xinhua.com—China plans to have control measures over desertification in North – (http://202.84.17.11/big5/kjxw/181304462.htm) • TAS News -- Desertification – (http://www.tas.idv.tw/news/2000/00022103.htm) • 荒漠化（地理科專題報告）(Chinese Version Only) – (http://hk.geocities.com/sandstormhk/homepage01.htm) Docsity.com