Desertification Jedidah Jackson

What is it?  Desertification is “the processes by which an area becomes a desert, usually involving drought combined with the overexploitation of existing plant life” (Random House Webster’s College Dictionary)

What does that mean?  It means that Desertification is when land becomes a desert, because of lack of rain and not enough plant life

What happens to land in Desertification?  Demonstration Time!  I need 7 volunteers  Oh yeah, and Chris, too

What just happened?  Chris (the rich top soil) couldn’t be pushed around by the wind very much because of all the plants standing around him  However, when the plants weren’t there, Chris went EVERYWHERE

 This is what happens in Desertification – there is not enough plant life to keep the rich, fertile top soil where it needs to be  Also, there isn’t enough rain to keep the top soil moist  The wind comes along and blows the top soil all over the place, exposing the less nutrient-rich soil underneath

 Because there is no nutrient-rich top soil, plants have a very hard time growing, because they don’t have enough food to eat  This continues the vicious cycle of no plant life to save the top soil from being blown all over by the wind

 This is when the land turns into a dry, barren DESERT

That’s only in Africa…  No, it isn’t! Desertification is a threat to any place that doesn’t have a lot of rain and has few plants (or has overexploitation of the plants they do have)

Is Oregon at risk for Desertification?  What do you think?

What can WE do about Desertification?  Brainstorming/thinking shower time!  Think about the causes of Desertification and how we can prevent it!

Projects already in Action  International Day to Combat Desertification – June 17,

Activity Time!

Resources    sciences.fr/english/ala_cite/expositions/eau_pour_tous/img/maitriser_eau/ desert_adritzz.jpg sciences.fr/english/ala_cite/expositions/eau_pour_tous/img/maitriser_eau/ desert_adritzz.jpg sciences.fr/english/ala_cite/expositions/eau_pour_tous/img/maitriser_eau/ desert_adritzz.jpg     ertification.jpg ertification.jpg ertification.jpg  desertification.jpg desertification.jpg desertification.jpg    png png png