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Meaning and human activities that lead to desertification

Answer Text:
Christian view on Desertification.
- Desertification refers to the encroachment of deserts or desert-like conditions into arable land, making it desolate, uncultivatable and uninhabitable.
- Deserts may form naturally. For example,
when rains persistently fail in semi-arid areas.
- The creation of deserts may be accelerated by human activities.
- Human activities which contribute to desertification include:
(i) Overgrazing. This causes desertification especially among the pastoralists.
(ii) Over cultivation. Soil may be rendered infertile.
(iii) Destruction of forests by fire from smokers or lightning.
(iv) Shifting cultivation.
(v) Poor methods of irrigation practices.
(vi) Continuous use of chemical which may make the soil infertile.
(vii) Cultivation on steep slopes and water catchment areas.
(viii) Cutting down trees thus leaving the land bare, causing soil erosion which eventually lead to desertification.
(ix) Mass destruction of vegetation by acid rains.