INDICATORS, CAUSES, EFFECTS AND MEASURES TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION
Desertification is a type of land degradation in which a relatively dry land region becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife.
It is caused by a variety of factors, such as climate change and human activities.
In East Africa and other parts of Africa, a number of steps have been taken to combat desertification or reverse the trend of desertification.
Causes of desertification.
Desertification is basically caused by environmentally unfriendly human activities.
However, to a small extent, it may be brought about by naturally existing conditions in the atmosphere that may lead to cycles of drought.
Such atmospheric systems that result in cyclic changes or occurrences in the atmosphere have compounded the problem of desertification.
Human activities that have contributed to desertification in East Africa in general include the following:
Deforestation.
Overgrazing.
Overstocking.
Bush burning.
Reclamation of wetlands.
Borehole drilling.
Industrial activity.
Mining/Quarrying.
Poor methods of cultivation.
Political conflicts/wars.
Desertification is associated with a number of negative effects and therefore it is undesirable. This is because of the following:
It may lead to crop failure or low crop yields hence leading to famine and human suffering. In sub – Saharan Africa it has been a major cause of famine. This is because of the prolonged dry seasons and recurring droughts which lead to crop failure and consequently food shortages resulting into human suffering and death due to hunger, starvation and disease.
The resultant decreasing rains may prompt irrigation. Consequently this may lead to salination of the soils, which is also a form of soil degradation.
The high or increasing temperatures are unconducive for human settlement as well as human activities such as cultivation.
The degradation or deterioration of the natural vegetation may cause a decrease in forestry products and a reduction in the ability of the natural vegetation to protect the environment.
It encourages soil erosion and creates conducive conditions not only for run off water erosion but also wind erosion.
It may lead to the encroachment of sand dunes due to wind erosion and such sand dunes are normally unsuitable for human activities such as cultivation.
It may result into the disappearance of some drainage features such as small streams and wetlands due to excessive evaporation and yet these drainage features play important roles i.e. both protective and productive roles.
Leads to the destruction of the natural habitat for wildlife and hence reduced biodiversity. This is because desertification leads to a change in the physical environment such as reduced vegetation cover, increased temperatures and reduced wetlands. It also destroys the natural habitat for a variety of wildlife.
9 Indicators of desertification
Decreasing rainfall amounts
one of the key indicators of desertification is the decrease of the amount of rainfall year after year. many areas which experience desertification today were once getting enough rainfall but due to deforestation and overgrazing which causes desertification these areas are now experiencing a small amount of rainfall
Rainfall becomes more unreliable
that is more recurring cycles of drought start being experienced.
Increasing temperatures
due to deforestation and loss of vegetation, the temperature tends to increase over time
Reducing relative humidity
due to loss of vegetation which is important in maintaining humidity in the atmosphere desertification lead to a decrease in the humidity in the atmosphere
Increasing diurnal range of temperature.
Reducing the thickness of cloud cover
that is the skies tend to become clearer and clearer with each passing year.
loss of water soil and vegetation water retention capacity
There is loss of water retention capacity of the vegetation and soils i.e. there are increasing evapotranspiration rates.
Reduced biodiversity
that is there is the degradation of the biological productivity of the land i.e. reduced plant and animal species.
Increasing wind and run off erosion
hence consequently resulting in reduced soil fertility.
The following are measures which can be used to combat desertification;
Legislation against environmental degradation
Laws have been passed against the destruction of the environment such as wetland reclamation.
Most of such vulnerable areas have been gazetted as nature reserves or conservation sites.
Afforestation
this has involved the campaign to plant trees in order to arrest the effects of desertification.
Tree planting campaigns have been conducted by the government, NGO’s, environmental/wildlife clubs as well as individuals.
Reafforestation
i.e. re-planting of trees where trees have been cut or where deforestation has taken place e.g. Mabira forest, Kibaale forest etc.
Introduction and practice of improved methods of cultivation
i.e. methods that do not harm the environment.
This has been mainly through protecting agricultural land by adopting practices that conserve soils e.g. mulching, crop rotation, gully prevention measures, application of manure and fertilizers etc.
Rotational grazing
This has been facilitated by paddocking.
Efforts have also been made to ensure that the carrying capacity of the land is maintained in order to avoid overstocking. Rotational grazing also helps to check overgrazing.
Re-settlement of people adjacent to forest reserves as well as eviction of forests encroachers
Re-settlement of the people is to prevent encroachment upon the forests especially when the population is increasing and when land shortage problems are cropping up e.g. encroachers in the Kibaale forest reserve were evicted and resettled.
Sensitization of the public about the role of forests or natural vegetation.
This has been through the education of the masses on the dangers of deforestation and also how to utilize the environment sustainably.
This has created awareness about environmental issues such as desertification-associated problems.
This sensitization has been through a variety of mass media e.g. the press, electronic media, seminars/workshops, schools, Local council meetings, public rallies etc.
use of efficient cooking technologies
Introduction and encouragement of the use of fuel-saving stoves or those that use sawdust such that less biomass is used as fuel.
This reduces on the tendency of the destruction of forests for fuel.
rural electrification
Rural electrification and provision of other sources of energy such as solar energy, bio gas etc as an alternative to wood fuel.
Creation or establishment of environmental organizations to champion or spearhead the fight against desertification through environmental protection and restoration of degraded lands
. Some of these organizations are governmental or non-governmental. They may also be international, inter-state, national or local.
Some are also voluntary organizations.
Examples of these bodies include; NEMA in Uganda (a parastatal body charged with protecting the environment.) Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
In addition, there are wildlife clubs, tree planting clubs and anti-pollution clubs. International organizations include the Kagera Basin Organisation, Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD), interstate ones like the East African Wildlife Society and others like Karamoja Development Agency (KDA) to combat desertification and aridity and ensure the development of the area.
Encouragement and use of indigenous methods of protecting the environment
Encouragement and use of indigenous methods of protecting the environment and more so natural vegetation and drainage feature i.e. through traditional customs and taboos.
population control
Population control measures through population re-distribution and family planning as well as encouraging late marriages, discouraging polygamy, etc to avoid overpopulation, which would lead to land shortage and deforestation
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