Land degradation can holistically be described as the total deterioration in the land’s quality, vegetation, topsoil, and water resources. Alternatively, it can be described as the loss of biological and economic productivity of important land uses (Conacher, 2013). This epidemic degradation or deterioration is often brought about by extreme exploitation of resources. In addition, land degradation refers to the biophysical environment or surrounding being affected by various combined human activities on the land. Natural occurrences or hazards are not considered as causes of land degradation, even so, some of the hazards such as floods, earthquakes, and bush fires can be attributed to human interference. Notably, Land degradation has been one of the most talked about issue if not discussed in the 21 st century. This is fundamental because of the serious implications degradation has on the environment, people’s health, the quality of life, agriculture, and security in terms of food. In this paper, land degradation will be discussed, highlighting the negative impacts and the implications to human life as well as giving recommendations and solutions. Sample (2007) posited that a total estimate of forty percent of the agricultural land around the world is extremely degraded. The atrocity was attributed to little or no vegetation cover, a change in the soil’s characteristics like the PH, soil losing it natural fertility by losing its vital nutrients, climatic change due to the imbalance in the environment or ecosystem, and the contamination of the soil which in turns pollutes the water through infiltration. The contaminated underground water then finds its way to large water bodies like the oceans, seas or lakes through rivers and streams. The causes of land degradation are numerous; while some are unique, others are interrelated and depend on each other for maximum effect. Many scholars have cited deforestation as a significant cause of land degradation. Deforestation is defined as the cutting or chopping down of trees for timber and firewood. In contemporary society, deforestation is on the rise and occurs faster due to the increasing demand for fuel, timber and other forest products. In addition, human encroachment in terms of settlements and shelter play a prominent role in deforestation, this is because of the increasing human population which creates pressure on the available land. To create space for settlement, the human population has to cut down trees and clear the bushes in their surroundings in a bid to fend off wild animals. Additionally, modern agricultural methods and practices like the extreme application of pesticides and fertilizers have greatly reduced the viability of the soil in agriculturally cultivated land resulting in land degradation (Mondal, 2016). Mondal (2016) further pointed out that overgrazing by pastoralists is another worrying issue regarding land degradation. The author describes overgrazing as the practice of excessively feeding of grass and other green plants by animals especially domesticated ones like cattle. Consequentially, this activity leads to loss of undergrowth vegetation, loss of plant diversity in species, erosion of soil, increased growth in unwanted plant species, and finally leading to general land degradation. However, overgrazing is not done by cattle alone, wild animals or herbivores in general also play a part in the same. The increase in herbivores leads to overgrazing and overfeeding of grass and vegetation and the immense pressure put on the little available and pasture leads to degradation. The demand for industrial and economic growth for countries has contributed to extreme deforestation, exploitation, and pollution of land and water. Due to industrialization, most of the land in the industrial sites has been highly degraded and worse; the land has lost its natural fertility and quality. Hence, such land cannot be upgraded mainly due to the chemicals released as wastes on to the land as well as into the water. The chemical wastes released or dumped into the water like rivers make the water toxic killing the ecosystem in the water. Also, further downstream, some people depend on the same water for household consumption like drinking and cooking. This, in turn, causes serious health conditions, cancers, and even death in some cases. However, one cannot talk about industrialization and fail to mention urbanization in the same breath. The increased demand for commercial sectors, infrastructure, amenities, and the growing population which begs for more residential areas have combined to degrade the land in the urban areas considerably. Sample (2007) reiterated that competing for sparse and scarce resources could lead to significant conflicts and destruction of the surrounding environment. The author went further to reference the assessment of the UN Millennium ecosystem that ranked degradation of land as one of the largest and worrying environmental problems in the world implying that it endangers food security, increases the poverty levels as well as risks thereby destabilizing the societies around the affected areas. Among the list of the most and hardest hit and degraded areas in the world include Central America which has 75% barren land, Africa that has a fifth of its soil massively degraded and Asia where 11% of the total land is not suitable and viable for farming (Sample, 2007). Also, soil erosion is another major land destroyer brought about by other various factors. Water is one of the factors leading to erosion through poor irrigation, flooding, and strong winds which blow away the top loose soil. Additionally, farming methods like plowing play a damaging role to the soil. In the same accord, numerous repeated planting in the same field depletes and exhausts the vital soil nutrients leading to infertility and ultimately leading to degradation and arid and semi-arid lands. Biological factors also play a significant role in degrading the soil. Some particular types of fungi and bacteria overgrow in the soil which in turn affect the microbial activities in the soil via the biochemical reactions and combinations that affect the soil’s productivity and the crop yield, as well as suitability (What is Soil Degradation? 2007) Finally, on the causes of land degradation, is mining activities. The excavation and digging processes devastatingly change the soil structure giving room for massive soil erosion. In general, mining activities degrade the soil in terms of its physical properties, biological properties, and chemical properties. Land degradation has dire implications for the environment. Desertification, semi-aridity, and aridity in the land have been some of the major effects and devastating outcomes of land degradation. The UN points out that aridity and drought conditions are anthropogenic induced due to the extreme and massive soil degradation. In addition, soil and land degradation might bring about the loss of biodiversity in the ecosystem. As land further degrades, more health implications are realized. As desserts expand and aridity spreads across the land, the production of food is greatly diminished, sources of water dry up, and populations are forced to move from one place to another in search of more hospitable and accommodating places and areas. Other impacts and effects of degradation include increased malnutrition risks due to little or no water and food supplies. Due to poor waste disposal by the chemical industries as well as humans because of the growing population, there are more water-borne diseases as well as food poisoning and contamination. Also, due to the increased population and the migration from degraded areas to more hospitable areas, there has been an increased spread of diseases (WHO, 2017). Degradation effects such as desertification have significant negative impacts both locally and globally. Locally, development and productiveness are totally reduced and affected due to the distraction of the natural resources like water, soil, flora and fauna, and wood fuel. On the global platform, increased emission of greenhouse gasses and loss of biodiversity have been attributed to land degradation (FFEM, 2014). Controlling and finding solutions, as well as preventive measures, need concerted efforts from all and sundry. Elimination of this pandemic is a tough, long and dragging process which is extremely complex in nature as it is communal in simplicity. First, according to Hoffman (2016), afforestation and reforestation are some of the major solutions to land degradation. Afforestation is the process of planting new trees to bolster the tree population whereas Reforestation is the process of planting trees where they had been originally cut. Afforestation and reforestation help hold the soil together preventing land degradation through erosion caused by flooding. In addition, trees act as windbreakers preventing land degradation through wind erosion. Gardening plays a fundamental part in controlling degradation. Planting of crops, as well as other vegetation, protects the soil from damage from heavy rainfalls which could otherwise lead to erosion of the soil. Hoffman (2016) suggested that the moderate and wise use of fertilizers such as the home-grown compost could help enrich the soil with vital nutrients as well as make it resistant to erosion. Additionally, exercising conservation in the tillage of land is critical in minimizing soil degradation. Land should be cultivated in shifts to give room for the soil to gain its vital nutrients preventing aridity and desertification. In addition, industries and companies should develop a proper culture and strategy when it comes to waste and by-product disposal. This measure helps maintain the integrity of the soil ensuring sustainability of the land. In addition, stringent policies on waste disposal should be developed and imposed, and hefty penalties should be applied to those found culpable of flouting the rules. According to Koniuszewski (2013), the adoption of the bio-mimicry process should be done. This process involves making use of cattle to mimic nature which will, in turn, prevent land degradation through prevention of desertification. However, this process should be done in moderation and with extreme caution because overgrazing and soil degradation due to the large herds of animals could easily occur. To this effect, researchers like Castellano and his group of researchers highly discourage livestock keeping suggesting that getting rid of livestock is a crucial step in the land reclamation process. This is because livestock rearing leads to soil compaction preventing water from seeping into the ground. As Koniuszewski (2013), noted, solutions, and control mechanism for this problem exist and do not need huge monetary investments, neither do they involve high and powerful technology. Simple cheap, as well as low-technological solutions, exist which require concerted efforts all round from the government, businesses, and the society at large. Construction of gabions and other anti-soil erosion mechanisms can significantly reduce degradation via soil erosion.
Conclusion
Land degradation is a serious issue that continues to wreak havoc by threatening both the plant, animal as well as human ecosystems. In this regard, concerted efforts from all stakeholders including the government will play a significant role in preventing degradation of land. The adoption of simple and low-technological solutions should be emphasized in a bid to minimize land degradation. Awareness programs on the prevention strategies should be set, rolled out and implemented to control and eventually eliminate the effects of land degradation.
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References
Conacher, A. J. (Ed.). (2013). Land degradation (Vol. 58). Springer Science & Business Media.
FFEM. (2014). FFEM strategy for the prevention of land degradation. Obtained http://www.ffem.fr/lang/en/accueil-FFEM/activites-ffem/degradation-des-terres
Hoffman, A. (2016). How Can You Reduce Land Degradation in Connecticut? Obtained http://www.godfreyhoffman.com/civil-engineering-blog/bid/297005/how-can-you-reduce-land-degradation-in-connecticut
Koniuszewski, A. (2013). Smart Solutions for Land Degradation. Obtained https://adamkoniuszewski.com/2013/08/04/smart-solutions-for-land-degradation/
Mondal, P. (2017). Land Degradation: Meaning, Causes, and Prevention of Land Degradation. Obtained http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/land/land-degradation-meaning-causes-and-prevention-of-land-degradation/12338/
Sample, I. (2007). Global food crisis looms as climate change and population growth strip fertile land. Guardian. Obtained https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/aug/31/climatechange.food
What is Soil Degradation? (2017). Conserve Energy Future. Obtained http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-soil-degradation.php
WHO. (2017). Land degradation and desertification. Climate change and human health. Obtained http://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/desert/en/
