1. Desertification By: Andrew Augustus Anne Bragg

2. What is Desertification Desertification is the degradation of land in arid and dry sub-humid areas, resulting primarily from human activities. Dry soil can be blown or washed away, leaving infertile soil in its place. It can effect areas such as prairies, savannas, rainforests, and mountains

3. Causes of Desertification Drought – Areas that receive little rainfall are subject to dry lands Overgrazing – Livestock are allowed to feed freely on vegetation without recovery periods for the plants to grow back.

4. What are the effects of Desertification? The effects of Desertification are –The loss of vegetation. Which will make the dry lands vulnerable for erosion –The crops suffer –Millions of people for example the dust storms will cause health problems such as asthma –Increases starvation for animals/plants and humans

5. Examples –Sahara Desert A climate change caused lakes and rivers to decrease Land was harder to farm on Vegetation died Livestock died of starvation Saharan Africans suffered from hunger and became completely dependant on international food –The Dust Bowl(1930s) The cause of the Dust Bowl was poor farming methods, cultivation and crop rotation. Caused sand storms and shortage of food

6. Works Cited Collins, Jocelyn. “Desertification.” Enviro Facts. 1 Feb. 2001 27 Feb. 2009. Pannell, Marjorie. "Desertification." Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 4th ed. Detroit: Gale Group, 2008. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. Stroudsburg High School. 27 Feb. 2009 ""Scientific Facts on Desertification." Green Facts. 2005. Millenium Ecosystem Assesment. 27 Feb. 2009.