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Development in an African Context

Desertification in the Sahel

  • 2 things to know
  • Component 3 Section B

Overview

Four Sahelian countries, how overgrazing causes desertification and role of cultivation expansion in desertification.

What you need to know

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Key term

Define desertification.

Key term

Where is the Sahel and what is its climate?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define desertification.

    Model answer

    Desertification is land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. Both climatic variation and human activity contribute to the process.

  2. 2

    Where is the Sahel and what is its climate?

    Model answer

    The Sahel is the semi-arid belt running from Senegal to Sudan along the southern edge of the Sahara. Rainfall of 200 to 600 mm falls in a single short wet season.

  3. 3

    Name four Sahelian countries.

    Model answer

    Senegal, Mali, Niger and Chad all lie within the Sahel. Burkina Faso and northern Nigeria are also included.

  4. 4

    Explain how overgrazing causes desertification.

    Model answer

    Herds strip the grass cover faster than it can regenerate after rain. Bare soil then loses its structure and is blown or washed away.

  5. 5

    How does fuelwood collection contribute to desertification?

    Model answer

    Most Sahelian households cook on wood and charcoal, so trees around settlements are cut. Loss of tree cover removes shade, root binding and leaf litter from the soil.

  6. 6

    Describe the role of cultivation expansion in desertification.

    Model answer

    Population growth pushes cropping onto marginal land once left as fallow or grazing. Shortened fallow periods leave no time for soil fertility to recover.

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