Introduction Desertification occurs as a result of the attenuation of the biological and agricultural potential of arid lands, which results in desert-like conditions (Hellden, 1998). This particular definition was popularized in 1949 by Aubreville, a well-known botanist and ecologist, who perceived desertification to be the changing of productive land into a desert as a result of man-induced activities that promote soil erosion (Darkoh, 1996). In recent years, scientists concerned with this phenomenon are beginning to admit that the effects of desertification are permanent and irreversible. Although Northern America and Spain report the largest percentage of arid lands that have been lapsed into deserts (Dregne, 1986), according to the Food
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Indeed, the exact causes of desertification, as Holthuijzen & Maximilian (2011) state, are complicated and have been the subject of debate for close to thirty years. Neverthelss, as Holthuijzen & Maximilian (2011) continue to provide, there exists two definitions that characterize the understanding of what the causes of desertification are. The first definition is the spread of deserts and desertification mainly due to human influences benchmarked on the destructive use of land that essentially leads to soil erosion. The second definition touches on the subject of climate change as a key driver for desertification in general. In regards to the first definition, Holthuijzen & Maximilian (2011) provide the example of Mali, a West African state that is struggling with the effects of desertification, which are mainly blamed on increased land cultivation and the indiscriminate cutting of trees for firewood and building of …show more content…
In regards to social and economic effects of desertification in West Africa, it is of importance to understand the interaction between the two elements. The structural functionalist theory of socialization provides that sustainability in the society is founded on structures that are fundamentally connected. Therefore, the social effects of desertification impact and promote the economic effects of desertification. One key social effect is the degradation of the quality of life of the people of West Africa. In this regard, it is imperative to understand the harsh climatic conditions that accompany desertification, which include, but are not limited to; extreme cold weather during the night and extreme hot weather during the day. This inevitably leads to the economic problem of productivity among the West African people, as they are forced to move from one point to another in search of water and pasture. Economically, the very state of the land does not permit its cultivation. As stated before, desertification is viewed as irreversible, which complicates sustainability because of the lack of food security to empower economic
Indeed, the exact causes of desertification, as Holthuijzen & Maximilian (2011) state, are complicated and have been the subject of debate for close to thirty years. Neverthelss, as Holthuijzen & Maximilian (2011) continue to provide, there exists two definitions that characterize the understanding of what the causes of desertification are. The first definition is the spread of deserts and desertification mainly due to human influences benchmarked on the destructive use of land that essentially leads to soil erosion. The second definition touches on the subject of climate change as a key driver for desertification in general. In regards to the first definition, Holthuijzen & Maximilian (2011) provide the example of Mali, a West African state that is struggling with the effects of desertification, which are mainly blamed on increased land cultivation and the indiscriminate cutting of trees for firewood and building of …show more content…
In regards to social and economic effects of desertification in West Africa, it is of importance to understand the interaction between the two elements. The structural functionalist theory of socialization provides that sustainability in the society is founded on structures that are fundamentally connected. Therefore, the social effects of desertification impact and promote the economic effects of desertification. One key social effect is the degradation of the quality of life of the people of West Africa. In this regard, it is imperative to understand the harsh climatic conditions that accompany desertification, which include, but are not limited to; extreme cold weather during the night and extreme hot weather during the day. This inevitably leads to the economic problem of productivity among the West African people, as they are forced to move from one point to another in search of water and pasture. Economically, the very state of the land does not permit its cultivation. As stated before, desertification is viewed as irreversible, which complicates sustainability because of the lack of food security to empower economic