Twenty- five per cent of India's total land is undergoing desertification. What do you understand by desertification? How is deforestation responsible for desertification? Suggest measures to reverse desertification. [5 MARKS]
Twenty- five per cent of India's total land is undergoing desertification. What do you understand by desertification? How is deforestation responsible for desertification? Suggest measures to reverse desertification. [5 MARKS]
Definition:1.5 Marks
Explanation:1.5 Marks
Suggestion of measures:2 Marks
Desertification is a type of land degradation in which relatively dry area of land becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its water as well as vegetation and wildlife. It is caused by a variety of factors, such as climate change and human activities.
Deforestation leads to the change in soil properties because plantation and vegetation have a direct bearing on the physical properties of the soil. Fewer trees results in increased soil erosion. Removal of the top layer of the soil exposes the lower, hard and rocky layers which has less humus and is less fertile. Gradually the fertile land gets converted into deserts. It is called desertification.
Measures to reverse desertification are as follows:
- Integrating land and water management to protect soils from erosion, salinization and other forms of degradation.
- Providing a vegetative cover, which can be a major instrument for soil conservation against wind and water erosion.
- Turning to alternative livelihoods that do not depend on traditional land uses, such as dryland aquaculture, greenhouse agriculture and tourism-related activities.
Definition:1.5 Marks
Explanation:1.5 Marks
Suggestion of measures:2 Marks
Desertification is a type of land degradation in which relatively dry area of land becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its water as well as vegetation and wildlife. It is caused by a variety of factors, such as climate change and human activities.
Deforestation leads to the change in soil properties because plantation and vegetation have a direct bearing on the physical properties of the soil. Fewer trees results in increased soil erosion. Removal of the top layer of the soil exposes the lower, hard and rocky layers which has less humus and is less fertile. Gradually the fertile land gets converted into deserts. It is called desertification.
Measures to reverse desertification are as follows:
- Integrating land and water management to protect soils from erosion, salinization and other forms of degradation.
- Providing a vegetative cover, which can be a major instrument for soil conservation against wind and water erosion.
- Turning to alternative livelihoods that do not depend on traditional land uses, such as dryland aquaculture, greenhouse agriculture and tourism-related activities.
