desertification it is the process of soil degradation due to excessive drought and the rapid loss of nutrients, resulting in the formation of a landscape corresponding to that of deserts. It is important to highlight that this phenomenon occurs in regions with arid, semi-arid and sub-humid climates, where the evaporation process is superior to that of precipitation. In regions with other climatic types, with rainfall above 1400mm per year, desertification does not occur, but soils are sandy.
Among the possible causes for the desertification process are: inappropriate use of soils by agricultural practices, depleting them; large-scale deforestation and exploitation of fragile ecosystems, inadequate and intensive use of pesticides, very prolonged droughts, fire action, among others.
There are, therefore, natural and human causes related to the desertification process, which usually only occurs in areas where there is already a previously established risk. In this sense, obtaining information about the susceptibility of a land to desertification is extremely important to guide planning actions on its use and management.
Among the consequences of desertification are natural, social and economic factors, such as: reduction and total scarcity of water resources; loss of arable areas, resulting in damages to their owners; salinization and alkalinization of soils; increased erosion rates; elimination of vegetation cover; increase in poverty rates in the affected region; among other problems.
The desertification process covers a large area around the world, affecting more deeply the territories of underdeveloped countries. However, when this problem affected regions of the United States, notably the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado, the issue began to receive greater political attention from the community International. The United Nations, since the 1990s, has been promoting ways and aid to combat the spread of the number of desertified areas.
In Brazil, the desertification of soils affects the Northeast region, where data from the Analysis and Image Processing Laboratory of Satellites from the Federal University of Alagoas (Lapis) reveal the expansion of 230 km² of land affected by this problem in the last 25 years old. According to the Ministry of Environment, there are five desertification nuclei manifesting in the semiarid region Brazilian, they are: Irauçuba (CE), Gilbués (PI), Seridó (RN and PB) and Cabrobó (PE), totaling an area that affects almost 400 thousand people.
To combat the expansion of desertified areas, controlling their growth and promoting measures and soil restoration, it is necessary to carry out more systematic studies, which are developed from a broad platform government. However, the situation is aggravated, above all by the onerous expenses that the desertification process demands to be fought.
By Me. Rodolfo Alves Pena
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/o-que-e/geografia/o-que-e-desertificacao.htm