Influence of Human Activities on Desertification (Essay Sample)

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Desertification
Introduction
Desertification refers to the process of continuous and gradual degradation of the ecosystem. During this process, the biodiversity is stressed beyond its ability to adjust to changing environmental conditions. Desertification is caused by the decrease in the vegetation covering the earth surface (Middleton). Decrease in the vegetation, leading to the degradation of the fertile land is caused by human activities and natural calamities. Vegetation, made up of trees is very important in shading the soil against losing its fertility. When the vegetation is cleared, the soil gets exposed to the sun, dries out quickly and loses important minerals important for sustaining the growth of plants. Also, clearing of vegetation leads to soil erosion. Soil erosion is the sweeping away of the top fertile layer of soil. The top layer of the soil is very crucial in ensuring health growth of vegetation. Therefore, when this layer is blown away, the soil remain unfertile hence cannot support growth of tress.
Influence of human activities on desertification
Although in some instances, desertification can occur naturally following droughts, in most cases, it is associated with human activities. Human activities leading to desertification include Poor grazing management, incorrect irrigation practices in arid areas, Deforestation and Poor farming practices ( Geist 486)
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* Overgrazing
Overgrazing occurs when livestock animals grace in one place for a long period of time. This follows the high rate of increase in the population of the livestock animas and the grazing land becomes a limited factor. Therefore, when livestock animals eat plants down to the roots, the plants stop growing. This exposes the soil to the sun thus becomes dry. Also when the vegetation covering the soil is cleared due to overgrazing, soil erosion occurs which sweeps away the top fertile layer of the soil hence the soil is not able to support growth of vegetation. This eventually leads to desertification.
* Deforestation
People clear vegetation for various reasons. Some do it for firewood and others cut down trees to create more space for construction. There are increasing cases of people constructing industries in the forest for example saw-mills. When trees are cut down, the soil is exposed hence becomes susceptible to erosion which sweeps away the top fertile layer. This leaves the land unfertile hence cannot support the growth of vegetation. This leads to desertification in the long run.
* Poor farming practices.
Most people globally are practicing farming irresponsibly. For instance, some farmers practice farming on average land. The average land should be left for a given period of time to replenish and regain its fertility. When average land is cleared for cultivation, it loses its fertility quickly. Following this, the land cannot support the growth of any plant hence the region experiences desertification.
* Incorrect Irrigation in Arid Regions
Some farmers in the arid regions apply canal irrigation and other poor techniques of irrigation. The use of such methods in practicing irrigation leads to high level of salinity in the soil. High level of salinity affects the growth of vegetation. Therefore, in the long run, the soil becomes bare hence desertification occurs.
Regions where desertification is taking place and the process
Desertification is taking place in the coastal Africa, south of the Sahara. The process leading to desertification in this region is mismanagement of the mangrove forest. Poverty level is high in this region. Therefore, people have resorted to clear the mangrove forest for charcoal burning in Oder to sustain themselves economically. Also they clear mangrove forest in search of tress for their construction (Middleton 87). The uncontrolled destruction of this forest has led to decrease in biodiversity hence desertification.
Another region experiencing desertification is Sahel region. In the previous years, Sahel region was covered by shrubs and there was water. People who inhabited this place had large number of livestock animals. This led to overgrazing. The shrub which was cover...