Desertification …Against the wind Sandstorm in Mauritania.

Table of Contents – Africa DateTitleLesson # 4/20Population61 4/21Economics62 4/22Overpopulation/Graying Population63 **AFRICA** 4/27Cover Page64 4/30Desertification6

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 PICS Sahel 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.

Directions 1. Go to Click 6 th 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 ecords/sahara- desert-map.shtml ecords/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