Desertification Global Health Threat Katie Romelczyk DesertificationWhat is

Desertification: Global Health Threat? Katie Romelczyk

Desertification…What is it? • The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines desertification as “degradation of the land in arid, semi-arid, and sub-humid dry areas caused by climatic changes and human activity”

Where in the world is desertification?

Who does desertification affect? • “drylands” cover 41% of earth’s land area • Home to 2 billion people • 90% of drylands located in developing countries

What causes desertification? • Climatic factors are main cause • Vulnerability depends on climate, relief, type of soil, and land use • Human activities such as agriculture and grazing can contribute

Human activities • Population pressures have led to more intensive use of drylands for agriculture and grazing • Reduces vegetative cover, leads to erosion and less soil moisture retention • Forces land use to move to marginal land, cycle of desertification continues

The Climate Change Connection • Changes in global weather patterns due to climate change can exacerbate desertification • Desertification can contribute to global climate change by reducing earth’s carbon sequestration capacity.

So why does desertification matter? • Environmental effects include affect on global climate change, destruction of ecosystem balance, and loss of biodiversity • Has both direct and indirect effects on human health

Human Health Effects • Malnutrition • Migration -> conflict, health problems associated with urban life • Dust storms • Freshwater scarcity • Meningitis • These effects are not always localized to the degraded area

Can desertification be prevented? • Integrate and improve land/water management • Promote alternative livelihoods and economic opportunities outside of drylands • Land rehabilitation • Reduce population pressure!