AFRICA AS A CONTINENT (DAY 7)

MAJOR CAUSES OF DESERTIFICATION IN AFRICA
There are both physical and human factors responsible for desertification in Africa
Today am going to look at the human causes of desertification in Africa.

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1. Practices of overstocking by the Masai in Kenya and Tanzania, Fulani in Nigeria, Mali, Bedouin Arabs in Egypt, Darfur of Sudan reduces/ Destroys vegetation which is a source of vapour through transpiration. This has led to desertification in Nigeria, Somalia, Mali, etc
   
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2. Overgrazing by livestock and wild animals in game parks like Okavango basin in Angola, Masai-Mara in Kenya and Tanzania leads to a reduction in vegetation thus affecting the formation of rainfall through evapo-transpiration

3. Deforestation for example depletion of Gabonese forests in Gabon, forests in Ivory coast eliminates the source of atmospheric moisture through transpiration. The increase in temperature and changes in rainfall season is a result of deforestation

4. Wetland reclamation either for settlement or for growing rice /agriculture for example at Port Harcout in Nigeria, along the shores of Lake Volta in Ghana eliminates the source of vapour through evapotranspiration. This in result leads to reduction in rainfall

5. Bush burning by farmers particularly the Fulani pastoralists in Nigeria destroys vegetation leading to reduced atmospheric vapour. The smoke contributes to the green house effect leading to increasing pressure.