What is Desertification?

Throughout Africa, desertification has been causing many serious issues. Desertification is the process in which fertile land changes into desert. Many human activities have lead to the process of desertification. These human activities include overfarming, deforestation, overgrazing, and slash-and-burn farming techniques. Desertification destroys the nutrients in the land, forcing farmers to use alternative land sources which in turn destroys the nutrients in that area.

Desertification and Soil

The result of these human activities is the depletion of the soil's nutrients. When nutrients from the soil are destroyed, the soil becomes very dry and unusable. When farmers can no longer use the soil they move to alternative land sources and repeat their techniques. This overfarming has become a main cause of desertification and is making Africa's Sahara and other deserts much larger.

Soil-Dust Accumulation

The decrease in food has also become a result of desertification. When the soil is overused, it turns dry and dusty. Over time, this dusty soil accumulates. This is how the deserts are becoming larger.