DESERTIFICATION

Desertification is the process of land degradation where a dry land region becomes increasingly arid, losing water bodies, vegetation, and wildlife.

Causes of Desertification

• Overgrazing: Excessive grazing hinders plant regrowth, disrupting the biome and leading to loss of green cover.
• Deforestation: Loss of forest cover makes the topsoil loose, leading to erosion and desertification.
• Farming Practices: Slash-and-burn agriculture exposes soil to erosion; tilling and overirrigation disturb the soil’s mineral composition.
  • Example: Overuse of fertilizers and pesticides for maximizing crop yields in the short term can significantly damage the soil.

Human Causes of Desertification

• Land Use: Increased demand for land resources due to overpopulation can leave the land vulnerable to desertification.
• Soil Pollution: Pollution from various human activities can cause soil to degrade, leading to long-term desertification.
• Urbanization: Urban expansion introduces chemicals and factors harmful to soil and reduces plant growth areas, causing desertification.
• Mining: Extensive extraction of natural resources can damage soil significantly, making the land arid and potentially irrecoverable.

Natural Causes

• Climate Change: Irregular rain patterns and droughts contribute to vegetation loss and eventual desertification.
  • Example: Climate variations in North Africa have led to the desertification of the Lake Chad region.
• Natural Disasters: Events such as drought can cause severe damage to the land, exacerbating desertification.
• Sand Encroachment: Wind-driven sand can reduce soil fertility, making the land susceptible to desertification.
  • Example: The Gobi Desert in Central Asia is the fastest-moving desert, causing neighboring regions to become desertified yearly.

Impact of Desertification

1. On Agriculture

• Reduced Crop Yields: Desertification results in a significant decrease in crop productivity, rendering land unsuitable for farming.
• Poor Water Quality: Without plant life, water quality deteriorates, as plants play a critical role in water purification.
• Soil Infertility: The top layer of soil, which is rich in nutrients and organic material, can be blown or washed away due to a lack of vegetation.

2. On Wildlife

• Biodiversity Loss: The destruction of habitats leads to a decline in biodiversity. While some species can adapt to changed environments, many may face significant population declines.
• Extinction Risk: Prolonged droughts, flooding, or sudden climate changes can deplete food sources, leading to starvation. Species that thrived in fertile conditions may struggle to survive in a desertified region.

3. On Disasters

• Landslides: Loss of vegetation destabilizes topsoil, making it prone to landslides during heavy rains or seismic activities.
• Floods: Forest cover and vegetation reduce the force and speed of water during floods; however, desertified land does not, thus increasing the expanse of floods.

4. On Humans

• Migration: Desertification leads to the destruction of farmers’ livelihoods and habitations, causing migration to other areas.
• Famines: Crop failure and drought-like conditions can cause famines and food security issues.
• Poverty: Loss of farmland impacts farming communities, leading to livelihood loss and increased poverty rates.

Initiatives

1. India

• Command Area Development: Launched in 1974 to improve irrigation potential and optimize agricultural production through efficient water management.
• Desert Development Programme: Launched in 1995 to minimize drought effects and control desertification by rejuvenating the natural resource base of desert areas.
• Soil Conservation in the Catchment of River Valley Projects and Flood Prone Rivers: Aims to improve the physical conditions and productivity of alkali soils for crop production.
• Integrated Watershed Management Programme: Restores ecological balance by rehabilitating degraded landscapes.
• Reclamation & Development of Alkali and Acid Soil: Reclaims lands affected by alkalinity and acidity, enhancing soil fertility through on-farm measures.
• National Action Programme to Combat Desertification: Prepared in 2001 to address desertification and implement necessary actions.
• Watershed Development Fund: Established by NABARD for integrated watershed development in priority districts across 18 states through participatory methods.
• Integrated Wasteland Development Project: Aims to prevent rainwater runoff and conserve it where it falls to control soil erosion and enhance green cover, improving productivity.
• National Afforestation and Eco-Development Project: Launched in 1992 by the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB) to promote afforestation and ecological restoration, focusing on degraded forests.

2. Global

• The Bonn Challenge: Aims to restore 150 million hectares of deforested and damaged land globally by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.
• SDG 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal 15): Dedicated to protecting the earth from destruction through sustainable consumption and production practices.
• UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification): The UNCCD is an international treaty that aims to combat desertification. It is the only legally enforceable international agreement relating to the environment and sustainable land management. It was founded in 1994.
• The Great Green Wall: This is a Global Environment Facility (GEF) initiative involving eleven Sahel-Saharan African countries pooling resources to combat soil degradation and restore native plant life to the region.

Way Forward

• Agricultural Policies: Implementing policies on how often and how much land can be farmed to reduce problems associated with farming and desertification.
• Awareness: Educating communities on sustainable practices to preserve land from becoming desertified.
• R&D (Research and Development): Researching and applying new technologies to better understand and address desertification drivers.
• Mining Regulations: Governments should regulate mining to protect natural habitats and maintain environmental balance.
• Afforestation: Reforesting areas previously affected by deforestation to reduce soil and wind erosion.
• Proper Irrigation: Developing irrigation techniques to prevent water from pooling or evaporating easily.
• Terracing: Creating flat, level steps on hillsides to slow runoff and reduce soil erosion, which helps retain water.
• Regulating Grazing: Practicing rotational grazing to manage and limit grazing pressure on the land.