Geoecology-Human Impact on Biomes

Humans have impacted on cancel activities in the Sahel region and the desert biome region by over-cropping, overgrazing and deforestation. The Sahel is a narrow strip of territory amidst the Sahara to the north and the Savanna and equatorial rain-forest to the South. It is a ironic (Semi-Arid) region receiving rain in the wet temper from June to September. The Sahara desert is growing South by up to 5-10 Kilometers each year. Which is mainly imputable to human activity. Overgrazing the heap of the region were traditionally Nomadic. They move following the rain and pasture- grime.Wealth was defined by animal possession by the tribes of the Sahel. As the number of cattle and goats change magnitude so did the competition for grazing shore up. They allowed the animals to graze the knowledge domain more(prenominal) than it could sustain. Young trees were in addition grazed. Herders as well as moved animals onto marginal grazing work until there was inadequate or no vegeta tion waiting. Wells were change posture to provide weewee for all the animals. This made herders remain longer in the wizard atomic number 18a applying more military press on the land. The wells used up all the ground pee cavictimization the water tables to fall. Eventually the wells dry up along with the land around it.As the human creation increased farming methods changed, Nomadic herding was replaced with a more settlight-emitting diode style of herding. Farmers began to fence in land and work it more intensely. Leading to taints being overused an d exhausted. Soils began to lose structure an minerals. Vegetation was lost(p) due to the large numbers of animals grazing and trampling the land. It was also unable to grow back because the soil was at present drained of all its nutrients. This in turn has a knock on effect, when the vegetative cover is lost it leaves the soil exposed to erosion by touch and heat.It leaves an easy job for gravid rain to brush away the s urface soil. Over-cropping The population of the region grew rapidly and this led to an increased demand in regimen. Grazing became replaced by growing food crops. The increased demand for food meant that the Fallow Year was abandoned. Farmers were also put under pressure by the Government to grow Cash Crops to economic aid repay their International debt. this continuous usage of the grassland robbed the land of its nutrients and minerals. Soon this land became sterile and worthless. Farmers now undeniable more land in order to action the akin return. ue to the shortage of wood people burned-over dried manure for heat and cooking, instead of using it on the land as a fertiliser. As the vegetation cover was reduced the amount of humus available was also reduced. Crops began to fail and again soil has lost its cover and was now vunerable to ramble erosion. deforestation Wood accounts for around 90% of the energy requirements in the Sahel. Deforestation is the loss of forests due to th over-cuttingvof trees. Trees disinclined down the wind and their roots help to moor soil, they also absorb moisture during heavy rainfall.The remotion of trees leaves soil exposed to erosion. The land which had been shaded by trees becomes dried out and burned by the sun, resulting in desertification. there atomic number 18 methods to solve the problems of over-cropping and overgrazing . Crop rotation is one way in which the soil is not exhausted, and so stop desertification. Farmers can also place lines of teeny-weeny stones acroos the land to act as dams. Here the water has no where to go but to be cloaked by the soil.. This reduces run-off and increases soil fertility. Contour ploughing is when the land is ploughed across rather than vertically.This to in the same way as the stones act as a dam and prevents run off and stops the topsoil being washed away in heavy downpours. Farming methods such as strip farming, where crops argon planted widely spaced then a diffe rent plant is planted in the gap. This ensures the land is not being depleted of nutrients and the fact the crops are harvested at different times means twain plants will be using different minerals. Shelters belts (trees) are also planted to prevent soil from wind erosion. Also shelter belts are normally friut producing trees which also provides a source of food.