Desertification…Against the wind

Sandstorm in Mauritania.

Table of Contents – AfricaDate Title Lesson #

4/20 Population 61

4/21 Economics 62

4/22 Overpopulation/Graying Population 63

**AFRICA**

4/27 Cover Page 64

4/30 Desertification 6

Desertification

• WHAT?

• Desertification = SPREAD, or GROWTH of the desert.

• WHERE?

• SAHEL region

Directions: Copy what is in the box

Sahel – a narrow band of grassland along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert

GE PICSSahel Region in Southern Sudan

Clip - Desertification

1. How does desertification affect the environment?

2. How does it affect the people?

Directions: Create a T-chart

Causes of Desertification Effects of Desertification

Causes of Desertification

1. Overgrazing – when land is exposed to continuous grazing for too long

Causes of Desertification

1. Overgrazing – when land is exposed to continuous grazing for too long

- Too many livestock on a piece of land

- Land needs time to recover

Causes of Desertification

2. Deforestation – the cutting down and clearing away of forests.

- Trees and their roots hold the soil in place

Causes of Desertification

3. Drought – long periods of little or no rain.

Desert ghost-town in Mauritania.

- Creates huge dust storms and harms crops

Clip – Kalahari Desert

1. Describe the sandstorm.

2. How will it spread the desert.

Directions: Click the link at the top and watch the video on China’s plan to fight desertification. Use this to answer the questions.

Causes of Desertification

4. Poor Farming Techniques

- Over-cultivation of land

- Bad irrigation techniques

- Overuse of groundwater

Utilizing any available water source in Somalia.

Directions1. Go to www.orso2ndperiod.wikispaces.com. Click 6th

Marking Period, and open the file Desertification 09 – L.

2. Complete the notes on the the Causes Effects of Desertification.

3. Finish your map.

4. Complete your Mauritania Government Action Plan.

Effects of Desertification - Migration

1. Environmental Refugees

– Governments in Africa are forcing the relocation of Nomadic herders

- Droughts have caused nomads to leave because of a lack of water

Effects of Desertification

2. Decrease in arable land

3. Increase in food prices

4. Increase sandstorms illnesses, economic loss

Solar ovens are being given to African communities. They use the sunlight as an energy source. How do these help desertification?

Clip – China’s Plan

• How is China fighting desertification?

• Could this plan work in Africa too? Explain why or why not.

Directions: Go to Go to T:) Student Student ORSO to find the clip. Choose the China one, it’s called “The Great Green Wall…”

•Use this to answer the questions.

Directions:

- Go to http://geology.com/records/sahara-desert-map.shtml

- Click on the + sign in the upper left to zoom in on the placemarks that are circled below.

- Title each placemark and write a short description about it in your notebook.

Action Plan

• You have been elected the new President of Mauritania, a country in West Africa.

• Create an action plan to solve each of the four desertification problems in the Sahel region.

Directions: • Take a piece of official Mauritanian government

paper and divide it into four sections.

Directions:

• In each square, include the following:1. A picture of each step of your plan (4 total)

2. Explanation of how each strategy will work.

Answer the question below on the back of your paper.

Conclusion question – Which part of your plan is the best? Explain why.

Help: How would you fix each of these problems?

1. Drought?

2. Deforestation?

3. Overgrazing?

4. Poor Farming Techniques- Overuse of water and land- Bad irrigation techniques