Management of vulnerable environments (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Geography B): Revision Note

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The notes on this page cover part 3.4.3 of the WJEC Eduqas GCSE B Geography.

3.4.3 How can environments vulnerable to desertification be managed?

• A range of strategies employed by Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), working at a local level with communities, to include drip irrigation, magic stones and use of drought-tolerant crops.

• International strategies aimed at reducing the spread of areas experiencing desertification.

NGO strategies to manage desertification

• Halting and reversing desertification means tackling the causes

• There are a variety of political and social responses 

• Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) such as Oxfam, Eden Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are often involved in working with local communities to implement management strategies

Education

• Education including:

  • Sustainable farming methods, including agroforestry and crop rotation, help to keep the soil healthy

  • Family planning to reduce population growth

Drip irrigation

• Standard irrigation leads to a lot of wasted water due to evaporation

• Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots, reducing evaporation and salt buildup

Agriculture

• Focus on livestock breeds which are better adapted to drier conditions

• Reduced herd size

• Use high-yielding varieties (HYV)

• Crop rotation

Drought-tolerant crops 

• Drought-tolerant crops can:

  • Increase the yield

• Other High-Yield Varieties (HYV) and Genetically Modified (GM) crops may also be:

  • Drought resistant

  • Pest resistant

Magic stones and terraces

• These help to reduce soil erosion by:

  • Preventing the soil from being blown or washed away

  • Increasing infiltration of water and reducing overland flow

  • Ensuring that dead organic matter stays in one place and can decompose, adding nutrients to the soil

• Many projects combine different strategies

• The Eden Project is based around agroforestry but also includes education

  • Based in Niger

  • Trees and shrubs, which are sources of food, are grown

  • The trees also provide a wind break, reducing soil erosion and increasing crop yields

  • The project educates farmers about sustainable farming methods

International strategies to manage desertification

Afforestation

• Tree planting, such as the Great Green Wall across the Sahel, helps to reverse desertification in several ways:

  • The roots help to bind the soil together, reducing soil erosion

  • The canopy offers shade, helping to prevent the soil from drying out and also reducing soil erosion from rainfall landing directly on the soil

  • Nutrients in the soil are replaced by falling leaves and branches

  • The trees increase animal and insect activity, which helps improve soil quality

International agreements

• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

  • Provides advice for countries and regions experiencing serious drought and desertification, particularly in Africa