INTRODUCTION
The change in the characteristic and quality of soil whichadversely affect its fertility is called as Degradation.
Land degradation is the most important environmentalproblem currently challenging sustainable developmentin many parts of the world. The problem is most acutewhere the environment is intrinsically vulnerable andwhere the population is losing control of its ownresources.
Land degradation means:
1) Loss of natural fertility of soil because of loss ofnutrients.
2) Less vegetation cover
3) Changes in the characteristic of soil.
4) Pollution of water resources from the contaminationof soil through which water sweeps into ground orrunoff to the water bodies.
5) Changes in climatic conditions because of unbalancecreated in the environment.
Land is a finite resource
planet earth pie
Mountains, deserts, ices (13%)
Rocky, wet, hot, infertile areas, cities(9%)
Water(75%)
Arable land (3%)
LD: Some facts
More than 50% of agricultural land moderately to severely degraded
75 billion tons of fertile soil disappear/year
12 million ha/year lost due to drought and desertification
Biodiversity: 27,000 species lost each year due to LD
Sustainable development?
Food Energy Water
Land
Causes of land degradation
Deforestation
Soil erosion by wind or water
Mining
Industrialization
Unsustainable agricultural practices
Urban expansion
1)
Overgrazing refers to excessive eating of grasses and other greenplants by cattle. It results into reduced growth of vegetation,reduced diversity of plant species, excessive growth of unwantedplant species, soil erosion, and degradation of land due to cattlemovement.
EFFECTS OR IMPACTS INCLUDE:
Decline in the chemical, physical and/or biological properties of soil
Reduced availability of potable water
Lessened volumes of surface water
Impacts on livestock and agriculture e.g. loss of animals due to dehydration, reduced yields
Decline in productivity
Water and food insecurity
Biodiversity loss
CONSERVATION MEASURES
1. Strip farming:
It is a practice in which cultivated crops aresown in alternative strips to prevent watermovement.
2. Crop Rotation:
It is one of the agricultural practice inwhich different crops are grown in samearea following a rotation system whichhelps in replenishment of the soil.
3. Ridge and Furrow Formation:
Soil erosion is one of the factors responsible for
land degradation. It can be prevented by
formation of ridge and furrow during irrigation
which lessens run off.
4. Construction of bunds:
This usually checks or reduces the velocity of
run off so that soil support vegetation.
5. Contour Farming:
This type of farming is usually practiced across the
hill side and is useful in collecting and diverting
the run off to avoid erosion.
Sustainable Land Management
The term SLM can be used to describe theutilisation of terrestrial resources (soils, plants, water,etc.) for the production of goods to satisfy changinghuman needs, without detriment to the long-termproductive potential of these resources and theirenvironmental functions.
Conclusion
Land degradation occurs because of land
poor management practices. In order to assess
sustainable land management practices, the
climate resources and the risk of climate-
related natural disaster need to be
documented. The use of climate information
must be applied in developing sustainable
practices. There is need to apply sustainable
land management practices in field forconservation of land.
Thank you "If you will not fight for right when you can easily win
without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your
victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to
the moment when you will have to fight with all the
odds against you and only a precarious chance of
survival. There may even be a worse case. You may
have to fight when there is no hope of victory…”.