1. Land Degradation: Economic Problems and Effects Key exam question: Key exam question: Examine the causes and consequences of soil degradation.

2. Table of Contents Introduction World Land Degradation Facts World Land Degradation Facts Positive and Negative Possible Outcomes Positive and Negative Possible Outcomes Causes of Land Degradation Causes of Land Degradation Statistics on U.S. Land Degradation Statistics on U.S. Land Degradation More Statistics on U.S. Land Degradation More Statistics on U.S. Land Degradation Loss of Farmland Loss of Farmland Loss of Rural Land Due to Development Loss of Rural Land Due to Development Average Number of Acres Developed Each Year Average Number of Acres Developed Each Year Costs of Land Degradation Costs of Land Degradation

3. Table of Contents cont’d Costs of Land Degradation cont’d Costs of Land Degradation cont’d Costs cont’d Costs cont’d Effects of Population on Land Loss Effects of Population on Land Loss Possible Solutions Possible Solutions Ways to Address Land Degradation Ways to Address Land Degradation International Efforts to Help Reduce Land Degradation International Efforts to Help Reduce Land Degradation Counter for Amount of Arable Farmland Lost Counter for Amount of Arable Farmland Lost Conclusion References

4. Introduction Land degradation is being caused by a wide variety of factors. The economic and environmental impact of the loss of arable farmland is beginning to be felt by many countries. If the loss of farmland continues at current rates, some countries will become completely dependent on others for their food supply. An over abundant amount of urbanization and improper land management are key points that need to be addressed in order to start attacking the loss of valuable fertile land.

5. Review: World Land Degradation Facts Review: World Land Degradation Facts Last 50 years has shown that worlds vegetated land has decreased productivity by nearly half –Mainly caused by human activity –Destructive agricultural practices –Deforestation Planet has lost 10% of total productive value –Capacity to provide crops and pasture –Forestry –Medicinal products –Other industrial products

6. Positive and Negative Possible Outcomes Positive and Negative Possible Outcomes If strong efforts are made to stop land degradation –The lost 10% could be reduced to 5% –Result would be healthier and more productive farmland If the problem is ignored –Earth’s lost productive value could get up to 20% –With some degradation affecting up to 90% of the planets useful land

7. Causes of Land Degradation Causes of Land Degradation Loss of topsoil due to –Overgrazing –Deforestation –Destructive agricultural activities –Exploitation of wood for fuel –All lead to soil erosion Once topsoil is washed away, it takes thousands of years to regenerate. Once topsoil is washed away, it takes thousands of years to regenerate.

8. Case study: Statistics on U.S. Land Degradation Case study: Statistics on U.S. Land Degradation At the present growth rate, the U.S. population will double to more than half a billion people within the next 60 years. Approximately one acre of land is lost due to urbanization and highway construction for every person added to the U.S. population. 0.6 acres of farmland would be available to grow food for each American in 2050 compared to the 1.8 acres per capita available today At least 1.2 acres per person is required in order to maintain current American dietary standards

9. More Statistics on U.S. Land Degradation More Statistics on U.S. Land Degradation Food prices are projected to increase 3 to 5-fold within this period By 2025, the U.S. will most likely cease to be a food exporter because food grown in the U.S. will be needed for domestic purposes. Since food exports earn $40 billion for the U.S. annually, the loss of this income source would result in an even greater increase in America's trade deficit. America is the world's largest food exporter, so the future survival of millions of people around the world may also come into question if food exports from the U.S. were to cease.

10. Task Sort these statistics into economical and social impacts. Can you think of any political consequences of U.S land degradation? Look at your map of USA and shade the countries that you see mentioned. Annotate your map with comments about what the shaded areas represent.

11. USA

12. Loss of Farmland Loss of Farmland Between 1982 and 1997 about 39,000 sq. miles of rural land converted to –Subdivisions –Shopping malls –Workplaces –Roads –Parking lots –Resorts This loss of rural land area is about equal to the area of Maine and New Hampshire combinedThis loss of rural land area is about equal to the area of Maine and New Hampshire combined http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/farmland.htmlhttp://www.numbersusa.com/interests/farmland.html 11/23/03

13. Loss of Rural Land Due to Development Loss of Rural Land Due to Development 1990’s—2.2 million acres of rural land was lost per year By 2050, an additional 110 million acres will be lost Would be equivalent of losing Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia.

14. Average Number of Acres Developed Each Year Average Number of Acres Developed Each Year (10 years)(5 years) Area 1982-92 1992-97 Pennsylvania43,110224,640 California80,020138,960 Ohio46,860104,240 Florida116,310189,060 Colorado30,74024,060 U.S.A.1,388,4103,193,200 By urbanizing some of its best farmland, the U.S. is limiting future options to deal with social, economic, food security and environmental problems

15. Costs of Land Degradation Costs of Land Degradation Degradation increases the cost of production the goods we all use and enjoy It will eventually raise the cost of goods on supermarket shelves and other stores Degradation adds to our Degradation adds to our –Building costs –Energy costs –Transport costs

16. Costs of Land Degradation cont’d Costs of Land Degradation cont’d Must include the cost for the reclamation of degraded land, –the reversal of degradation. Cost of reversing degradation depends on the severity of degradation. Cost of reversing degradation depends on the severity of degradation. The sooner degradation processes are recognized and reversed, the more efficient and cost-effective is the rehabilitation. As land degradation and rehabilitation are very location-specific, there is no universally valid estimate of cost per unit area of land degraded or reclaimed

17. Costs cont’d Costs cont’d Another important cost factor is the off-site effect costs –These include (externalities) the siltation of dams and watercourses that reduce the economic life of irrigation systems and power stations, and dust emissions that affect public transportation (e.g. roads and railways) and are health hazards In the US, it has been estimated that the off-site costs of degradation may be 45-times greater than the direct cost of the loss of the land’s productivity

18. Effects of Population on Land Loss Effects of Population on Land Loss Population growth means need for increased urbanization Population growth also means need for increased food supply How does this affect loss of arable farmland? –Need more land to produce food –Also need more places for people to live

19. Possible Solutions Possible Solutions Need to decrease constant increase in population –Decrease number of births –Decrease number of immigrants Will mean less land needed for urban development Will leave enough arable farmland to supply adequate food for population Need to increase productivity of arable land remaining –Find new technology to improve land quality –Use new methods so land does not become overused and allowed to degrade or erode away

20. Ways to Address Land Degradation Ways to Address Land Degradation National level: –direct intervention in the affected areas –the development of non-agricultural employment opportunities –population planning to make population densities compatible with the population- carrying capacities of the region

21. International Efforts to Help Reduce Land Degradation International Efforts to Help Reduce Land Degradation International level: –mobilization of intellectual, institutional, and financial resources –greater efforts to implement provisions of international conventions –support to successful interventions at local levels that can be replicated across wider locations The disparities that exist among countries in terms of their natural resources, economic status, and educational level should be reflected in policies and action plans to be implemented

22. Counter for Amount of Arable Farmland Lost Counter for Amount of Arable Farmland Lost 36,543,965 Acres Lost Since 1970 Site has a counter of acres of farmland lost since 1970 Equals 2 acres lost per minute http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/farm land.htmlhttp://www.numbersusa.com/interests/farm land.html 10/27/04 http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/farm land.html

23. Conclusion Given current depletion rates of land, water, and energy resources, U.S. agricultural productivity is already unsustainable. Should the U.S. population double within the next 60 years, the subsequent decrease in arable land will substantially change American eating habits and dramatically reduce future food exports. If Americans want continued access to abundant and affordable food with the ability to continue exporting food, we must work together to stop U.S. population growth and conserve our country's limited land, water, and energy resources in order to achieve a sustainable American future.

24. Task Answer the Key Exam Question using the information from the case study to help you. Draw on information from previous lessons also.

25. Summarize your case study

26. References http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/farmland.htmlhttp://www.numbersusa.com/interests/farmland.html 11/23/03 http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/farmland.html http://dieoff.org/page40.htmhttp://dieoff.org/page40.htm 11/23/03 http://dieoff.org/page40.htm http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:ZIjfaqwCB2AJ:www.planetwi re.org/files.fcgi/291_Agricult.pdf+land+degradation+U.S.+farmland& hl=en&ie=UTF-8http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:ZIjfaqwCB2AJ:www.planetwi re.org/files.fcgi/291_Agricult.pdf+land+degradation+U.S.+farmland& hl=en&ie=UTF-8 11/23/03 http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:ZIjfaqwCB2AJ:www.planetwi re.org/files.fcgi/291_Agricult.pdf+land+degradation+U.S.+farmland& hl=en&ie=UTF-8 http://www.berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/1995/0913/land.html http://www.berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/1995/0913/land.html 11/23/03 http://www.berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/1995/0913/land.html http://www.landcarensw.org/What%20is%20Landcare.htmhttp://www.landcarensw.org/What%20is%20Landcare.htm 11/23/03 http://www.landcarensw.org/What%20is%20Landcare.htm http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:V_JKB6y2Z- cJ:www.unu.edu/millennium/el- beltagy.pdf+U.S.+land+degradation+solutions&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:V_JKB6y2Z- cJ:www.unu.edu/millennium/el- beltagy.pdf+U.S.+land+degradation+solutions&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 11/23/03 http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:V_JKB6y2Z- cJ:www.unu.edu/millennium/el- beltagy.pdf+U.S.+land+degradation+solutions&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 http://www.defenders.org/pubs/nsi06.htmlhttp://www.defenders.org/pubs/nsi06.html 11/23/03 http://www.defenders.org/pubs/nsi06.html