~*Patricia Strunk*~

~*What is desertification*~ Desertification is the degradation in arid, semi-arid areas due to human activities. – Changing usable land into desert Desertification is recognized as a major threat biodiversity. Some countries have developed Biodiversity Diversity Plans for its effects similar to the protection of endangered flora and flauna

~*More About Desertification*~ Desertification is the persistent degradation of dryland ecosystems. In drylands, water scarcity limits the amount of crops, wood, and other services ecosystems provide to humans.

~*Some Causes Of Desertification*~ The main cause of desertification is removal of vegetation. Some other causes of desertification are: drought, climatic shifts, growing populations, and poverty

~*Some Effects Of Desertification* Desertification decreases the ability of land to support life, wild species, domestic animals, agricultural crops and people. When vegetation cover and soil layer are reduced, rain drop impact and run-off increases. A reduction in plant cover also results in the quantity of humus and plant nutrients in the soil, and plant production drops further.

~*The Global Desertification Vulnerability Map*~

~*History*~ Fixating the soil is done by the use of shelter belts, woodlots, and windbreaks. Windbreaks are made from bushes and trees, to reduce soil erosion evapotranspiration. Desertification does not occur in linear patterns. Desertification was well known in the 1930’s, when parts of the Great Plains of the United States became the “Dust Bowl” of drought and practices in farming.

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