Case Study: Desertification in Botswana

Read the article about Botswana and answer the questions below.
1) What is desertification? Give a general overview (In your own words) of what it is and what are its causes. (4 marks)
Desertification is a process where land, that once was luxurious and living, becomes a desert. This usually occurs from a drought or deforestation. Deforestation is the action of clearing trees from a certain area. It is basically taking a  forest and demolishing it into clear land.  When there is desertification the land loses its body of water, vegetation and wildlife. Deforestation and droughts aren't always the cause of this mess. Desertification can happen from climate change and people overgrazing the land.

2) Describe the PHYSICAL characteristics of Botswana and how these are impacting desertification. Remember that physical is things that would be there whether humans existed or not and include the climate, the flora and fauna, the landscape. (4 marks)
Climate:
The raise in temperature will raise the evapotranspiration which can lead to soil humidity. The climate change can increase the number of days the land has droughts as well. The deterioration of topsoil especially in dry lands is due to the different temperatures it is facing. The deterioration of the topsoil as well is the effect of rain fall ad soil humidity which also increases the process of desertification at a rapid rate.
Fauna:
Different animal species that depend on vegetation have to migrate to different areas in order to survive. They fly/move to different areas to find resources that help them life and reduce the risk of them disappearing.  The loss drives away from the fact that animals and plant species from dry lands are particularly well adapted to the extremely dry environment and don't need to migrate.  They act as indicators of the environmental condition and their disappearance is a sign of a habitat degradation. This has a negative effect which is causing the desertification to happen in Botswana.
Flora:
he degradation of land is usually due to drought, over exploitation and salinity. The consequences on the vegetation to maintain  and flourish can be gone due to the droughts and over exploitation! This kind of poor vegetation can cause the land degradation to occur which after on results to a desert like area.
Landscape:
Land degradation would cause soil to erode or disappear. This increases the chance of the process of desertification. This has a direct affect on the water cycle! It causes it to be scarce and in threat. With less rainfall there is a more cause of droughts to occur as well.



3) Describe the HUMAN causes of desertification in Botswana. How are humans making it worse? (4 marks)

Overgrazing, deforestation and  farming are a few examples of what causes desertification. Overgrazing is where farmers allow livestock to graze to the point where its damaging the vegetation. Deforestation is when a forest filled with big flourishing trees is turned into clear land usually for agriculture. Overgrazing and deforestation is usually the main causes that lead to desertification because it either removes or damages the vegetation that is protecting and guarding the land. Another cause is farming on the land, destruction of plants in dry lands, and as well incorrect irrigation in dry regions. Some of this stuff causes a build up of salt in soils. In Botswana another reason of desertification is cause of the population. Over the past ten years the population has increased dramatically causing more food being produced. However is isn't enough water to share with everyone and is not enough for the crops to grow which is another reason why Botswana is turning into like a desert.

4) Describe some of the problems associated with solving the problem in Botswana, as well as some of the steps that have been taken to protect the environment and people. (4 marks) 
One of the major problems in Botswana is the growing population. Because of the huge population there is not enough water going to everyone needs. The population needs to be managed otherwise things can go out of hand in a negative manner. By decreasing the population there will be a decrease in human activities which is a cause for desertification. Educating the public is the golden ticket to help reduce desertification. Educate the people on how to respect the environment and to only use the resources which are needed efficiently. Im not sayingthre has been no help in saving Botswanna. Thepublic has tried to minimize their grazing, deforest and damages however not alot of people know how to help the environment around them