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Learn about desertification and deforestation, their causes, effects, and what we can do to limit them. Human activities such as overgrazing and poor farming techniques contribute to desertification, while deforestation is driven by factors like cattle ranching and logging. These environmental issues lead to loss of biodiversity, soil nutrients, and contribute to global warming. By preserving forest lands, recycling paper products, and using alternative building materials, we can work towards combating these critical problems.
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Environmental Issues: Desertification and Deforestation
Desertification What is it? Desertification: degradation of land into desert
Desertification How does it happen? Human causes of desertification (major): - overgrazing of grasses by cattle takes away support holding soils together, allowing nutrients to be blown away - poor farming techniques can take nutrients from soil, leaving it to salty to be productive Natural causes of desertification (minor): - fire and climatic changes
Desertification What are the effects? - reduction of nutritional density - famine - economic loss - loss of biodiversity (variety of plant and animal life)
Deforestation What is it? Deforestation: permanent destruction of forests and woodlands
Deforestation How does it happen? Causes of deforestation: - cattle ranching - mineral and oil extraction - logging for wood and paper products - acid precipitation - fires - insect activity
Deforestation What are the effects? - loss of biodiversity (variety of plant and animal life) - loss of soil nutrients - increase in erosion, especially on hill slopes - increase in global warming - changes in climatic patterns
Deforestation What can we do to limit deforestation in B.C.? - preservation of forest lands in parks - conservation/recycling of paper products - increased use of alternative building products