Water Scarcity & Desertification

1. Water Scarcity & Desertification Photo credit: Natphotos/Getty Images, National Geographic. Africa’s Namib Desert © The GlobalEd 2 Project

2. Essential Questions: • What is desertification? • Is there a connection between the scarcity of water and desertification? • Can we eliminate/reduce desertification? • Why should I care about desertification, anyway? © The GlobalEd 2 Project

3. Enduring Understandings: • Desertification occurs when the groundwater table decreases to such a level that it drains an arid or semiarid land of its life-supporting capabilities- • Salt accumulation in the topsoil • Decrease in surface water • Increased erosion • Disappearance of native vegetation © The GlobalEd 2 Project

4. Enduring Understandings:(continued) • Desertification leads to a decline in available ground water. • Desertification can be reduced. • As there is a finite amount of water on Earth, we must reduce/eliminate things that cause a reduction in available ground water. © The GlobalEd 2 Project

5. Causes of Desertification • Improper crop rotation • Inadequate draining or poor irrigation practices • Huge demands on ground water • Deforestation • Drastic decrease in soil nutrients, leading to loss of vegetation cover © The GlobalEd 2 Project

6. Effects of Desertification • Increased frequency of drought • Increased frequency of sand/dust storms • Greater occurrence of flooding • Reduction in available ground water © The GlobalEd 2 Project

7. Reducing Desertification • Proper crop rotation • Less water-demanding and drought-resistant crops • Reduce soil erosion • Reduce over-cultivation, over-grazing • Improve land-management techniques © The GlobalEd 2 Project