DESERTS

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DESERTS DESERTIFICATION
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What is desertification?

• Land degradation loss of lands biological
  productivity
• One of worlds most alarming processes
• Caused by human activities and climate change

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(No Transcript)
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THE PROCESS OF DESERTIFICATION
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HOW DOES DESERTIFICATION OCCUR?

• Human activities
• Climatic conditions
• Biological diversity

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CAUSES FACTORS

• Climatic factors
• Technological factors
• Economic factors
• Deforestation
• Population pressure
• Over exploitation of natural resources

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THE ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF
DESERTIFICATION
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The negative impacts of desertification are
twofold

• Ecological

• Socio-economic

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ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS Soil Resources

• It changes soil quality, damages soil structure
  and leads to the loss of soil nutrients
• It changes land surface characteristics
• It reduces the agricultural productivity of the
  land
• It leads to the loss of Ecosystem diversity

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Water Resources

• It changes water quality and quantity
• It causes loss of productivity and impairment of
  aquatic ecosystems

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Wildlife, Plants And People

• It leads to the reduction in biodiversity
• It reduces plant composition and abundance

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Climate

• It affects the regional and global energy
  balance, reduce carbon sequestration and storage
  and increase carbon dioxide emission contributing
  to the greenhouse effect
• It undermines the structure and functions of
  ecological systems such as biogeochemical cycles
  (i.e. carbon, hydrological, and nutrient cycles)

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Climate (contd)

• It influences the movements of atmospheric masses
  and rainfall
• It may intensify a general climatic trends toward
  greater aridity or it may initiate a change in
  local climate

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SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS

• It can worsens the effects of poverty and
  dependence
• It weakens populations and institutions
• It reduces food security
• Socio-economic development is disequilibrium

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IMPACT OF DESERTIFICATION IN ST. LUCIA AND OTHER
CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES

• The most affected areas include
• Micoud
• La Riche-Choiseul
• La Pointe-Choiseul
• Others include Balembouche, Doree, Piaye, all
  south west of the island

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CAUSES

• Climatic Variations/ Limited Rainfall/ Drought
• Deforestation
• Poor Farming practices
• Poor irrigation
• Fires
• Animal grazing

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Pictures of each affected area
Micoud Area
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Pictures of each affected area
Micoud Area 2
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Pictures of each affected area
Micoud Area 3
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Pictures of each affected area
La Riche
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Pictures of each affected area
La Riche 2
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Pictures of each affected area
La Riche 3
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Pictures of each affected area
La Riche 4
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Pictures of each affected area
La Pointe
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Pictures of each affected area
La Pointe 2
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Soil erosion in other Caribbean countries

• Haiti
• Yallahs Valley Jamaica
• Barbados
• Northern Range in Trinidad Tobago

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MEASURES TAKEN TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION

• Terracing
• Contour Ploughing
• Crops can be grown on ridges and along slopes
• Check Dams can be built across gullies
• Mix Cropping
• Strip Planting along contours
• Steep slopes should be used for forest and pasture

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Contour Ploughing
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Other measures taken by the Ministry of
Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Department

• The establishment of Leucaena plots at La Pointe,
  Choiseul
• Discourage Cattle grazing on Steep slopes which
  would trigger soil erosion.
• Zoning of slopes i.e. determining what type of
  vegetation should be on certain slopes.

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Other measures taken by the Ministry of
Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Department
(contd)

• Documentary on local Agri-Focus programmes
• Regulating tree planting on the water catchment
  area at Talvern Babonneau
• Agricultural extension and engineering programmes
• Having regular lectures at schools and various
  community groups.

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PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE PLANS AIMED AT COMBATING
DESERTIFICATION
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Past Activities

• Soil and water conservation programmes
• Watershed and Environmental Project
• Forest and Environmental Rehabilitation Project
• Development of Forestry Management Plan
• Formation of Water Catchment Groups

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Present Activities

• Establishment of A Water Resource Management Unit
• Implementation of The Greening Project
• Development of a National Environmental Strategy
• Establishment of a Regional Environmental Charter
• Establishment of The Aupicon Charcoal and
  Agricultural Producers group

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Future Plans

• Future plans for meeting the obligations under
• the Convention to combat desertification were
• developed at a National Consultation in March,
• 2000, through the development of a National
• Action Plan.
• The methodology proposed is as follows
• Assessment of existing institutions involved in
  addressing land degradation issues

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Future Plans (contd)

• Assessment of land degradation processes
• Establishment of a group to identify affected
  areas
• Development of a national report at the community
  level for discussion.
• Initiate community discussion
• Convene representatives of communities at a
  national consultation
• Use the results of the consultation to develop a
  National Action Plan

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• Implementation of new laws and regulations
• Enforcement of existing laws and regulations
• Raising awareness about the problem.
• Mobilizing and involving people in the fight
  against desertification through education
• Reintroducing and promoting traditional farming
  practices
• Developing and Promoting sustainable agricultural
  practices

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THE END