So what is desertification?
Desertification, in the words of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, is one of the worlds most alarming processes of environmental degradation
Desertification is about the loss of lands biological productivity. The causative factors identified for this process are:-
- Rapid population growth
- Climatic changes and
- Poor agricultural practices
This process threatens to expand the worlds deserts leading to a number of detrimental consequences viz.:-
- Mass migrations
- Increased poverty
- Food shortages leading to malnutrition
- Water shortages leading to consumption of polluted water with increased incidence of epidemics of water borne infections
- Conflict over resources
- Increased risk of fires (due to dry air)
- Limited access to health care
- Increased respiratory disorders due to increased suspended particulate matter in air
The UN, in recognition of this threat has declared 2006 as the “International Year of Deserts and Desertification” and has partnered with 191 countries to fight this new battle.
Btw every year June 17 is celebrated as the “World Day to Combat Desertification” with this years theme being “The beauty of deserts – the challenge of desertification.”
What is destined to rise is also destined to fall. Empires fell, dinasours fell and a host of other things (I am sure about this but don’t have more examples) – The question is “will man fall?” All the best to mankind.
Reference – United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
2006 – International Year of Deserts and Desertification
JAMA
Technorati Tags: Global Warming, Health, Desertification, Science
