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Geography

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Submitted By flowerken
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Case study: desertification in Nara, Mali
Background
* Desertification traced back to severe drought in 1961-73 * 2 socio economic groups: agro pastoralists (sarakole) - sedentary, grow crops, keep livestock and rely on direct rainfall. Nomadic pastoralists (falani) – continually move livestock to find food and water. * Semi arid region of landlocked Mali * Ranked 175/178 on HDI * High food costs led to famine * Years of plentiful rainfall triggered plagues of locusts which destroyed crops * Natural vegetation is grass and woody scrub
Causes of desertification
Human
* Population growth leads to more people collecting firewood from live trees and shrubs * Forest fires caused by human waste added to desertification and wind erosion * To meet demands of growing population, agro and nomadic pastoralists increased herd sizes * Population growth (120,000 (1976) to 190,000 (1996)) increased need for food, animal feed, firewood. * Little tradition in managing pastureland- overgrazing/over cultivation leads to decline in soil quality.
Physical
* Stalinisation of groundwater occurred due to recurrent droughts * Since drought (1961-73) rainfall decreased by 30% * Mean rainfall is 378mm and potential evapo-transpiration is 4 to 5 times higher. * No permanent rivers * Seasonal rainfall wet season (June to October) rest of year is dry. Rainfall can be unpredictable
Consequences of desertification
Short term * Conflicts between farmers competing for land * Pastoralists have less by products like cheese to sell * Livestock produce less milk and offspring
Long term * Overgrazing reduced plant and animal biodiversity * Increased incidence of poverty and famine * Wildlife has disappeared (rabbit and antelopes used to be a good food source for people)

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