rural Flashcards
(10 cards)
effects of RLD in the sahel (environmental) X6
-less vegetation to soak up precipitation
-dust storms and air pollution
-soil becomes baked by the heat of the sun so plant roots cannot penetrate
-seasonal rivers dry up
-soil erosion (wind/water)
-overgrazing may lead to loss of plant species
effects of RLD (socio-economic)
X6
-famine and food shortages-
-fewer crops grown
-wind blown soil particles can cause eye infections/ respiratory illness
-forced migration to refugee camps (ethiopian famine)
-farmers incomes decline
_herdsmen have to walk greater distances to find enough vegetation/water for animals
what is the sahel
southern fringe of the sahara desert, Africa
management strategies in the sahael X6
-crop rotation
-afforestation
-stone lines
-coppicing
-terracing (fanya juu)
-zai planting pits
crop rotation
growing different crops on a patch each year
This allows soil to recover its minerals and fertility to avoid soil exhaustion and promote crop growth
Afforestation
digging a trench and planting trees in it.
Trench encourages water to collect there and infiltrate to encourage tree growth. roots also hold together soil reducing soil erosion.
stone lines
built as contours along the soil. water collects behind the tones and infiltrates the soil rather than running off the surface. the water helps to create a mud consistency which binds the soil so it doesnt blow away.
coppicing
cutting trees back to near ground level but not killing trees so that it can regrow, keeping roots reduces soil erosion as they bind soil together.
terracing (fanya juu)
steps are cut into the sides of hills to create flat areas on the hill. less topsoil is eroded from flat areas on the hill compared to slopes.
zai planting pits
oxfam working in burkina faso promoted this traditional practise of digging a pit during the dry season and filling it with manure . This leads to increased termite activity which in turn increases rate of water infiltration when rain comes
