Which of the following human activities contributed to worsening soil degradation in Sahel in 1970s and 1980s

List 3 ways humans have degraded soil quality

Which human activity is sometimes associated with soil degradation, intense water use, and chemical pollution?agricultural productionenergy productionloggingoverfishing

A    The Sahel zone lies between the Sahara desert and the fertile savannahs of northern Nigeria and southern Sudan. The word sahel comes from Arabic and 5 means marginal or transitional, and this is a good description of these semi-arid lands, which occupy much of the West African countries of Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad.B    Unfortunately, over the last century the Sahara desert has steadily crept southwards, eating into once productive Sahel lands. United Nations surveys show that over 70 per cent of the dry land in agricultural use in Africa has deteriorated over the last 30 years. Droughts have become more prolonged and more severe, the most recent lasting over 20 years in parts of the Sahel region. The same process of desertification is taking place across southern Africa as the Kalahari desert advances into Botswana and parts of South Africa.C   One of the major causes of this desert advance is poor agricultural land use, driven by the pressures of increasing population. Overgrazing - keeping too many farm animals on the land - means that grasses and other plants cannot recover, and scarce water supplies are exhausted. Overcultivation - trying to grow too many crops on poor land - results in the soil becoming even less fertile and drier, and beginning to break up.Soil erosion follows, and the land turns into desert.D    Another cause of desertification is loss of tree coven Trees are cut down for use as fuel and to clear land for agricultural use. Tree roots help to bind the soil together, to  conserve moisture and to provide a habitat for other plants and animals. When trees are cut down, the soil begins to dry and loosen, wind and rain erosion increase, other plant species die and eventually the fertile topsoil may be almost entirely lost, leavingonly bare rock and dust.E    The effects of loss of topsoil and increased drought are irreversible. They are,however, preventable. Careful conservation of tree cover and sustainable agricultural land use have been shown to halt deterioration of soils and lessen the effects of shortage of rainfall. One project in Kita in south-west Mali funded by the UNDPhas involved local communities in sustainable management of forest, while at the same time providing a viable agricultural economy based on the production of soaps, beekeeping and marketing shea nuts. This may be a model for similar projects in other West African countries.What is the meaning of the word "Sahel" in Arabic?2 баллаDesertFertileMarginal or transitionalSavannahОтменить выборWhich regions does the Sahel zone lie between?2 баллаSahara desert and Mediterranean SeaSahara desert and Indian OceanSahara desert and Atlantic OceanSahara desert and Red SeaОтменить выборWhich of the following countries are mentioned as part of the Sahel region?2 баллаNigeria and SudanAlgeria and LibyaMali and MauritaniaEgypt and ChadОтменить выборWhat is a major cause of desertification mentioned in the text?2 баллаHeavy rainfallOverpopulationExcessive tree coverAbundance of water resourcesОтменить выборWhat effect does overgrazing have on the land according to the text?2 баллаIncreases fertility of the soilAllows grasses and plants to thriveExhausts water supplies and prevents vegetation recoveryDecreases soil erosionОтменить выборWhat role do tree roots play in maintaining soil health?2 баллаThey absorb excess waterThey increase soil fertilityThey bind the soil together, conserve moisture, and provide habitatThey accelerate soil erosionОтменить выборWhat is one example of a project mentioned in the text aimed at preventing desertification?2 баллаConstruction of damsMining for mineralsSustainable management of forestsExpansion of urban areasОтменить выборWhich country is mentioned as the location of the project involving sustainable management of forests and agriculture?2 баллаNigeriaMaliChadMauritaniaОтменить выборWhat economic activities are mentioned in relation to the project in Mali?2 баллаOil drillingGold miningSoap production, beekeeping, and shea nut marketingTextile manufacturingОтменить выборWhat is emphasized as being both irreversible and preventable in the text?2 баллаPopulation growthClimate changeLoss of topsoil and increased droughtDeforestation

Write an essay on how human activities intensify the effects of soil erosion and how can the harmful effects of soil erosion be lessened.

Read the following passage to answer Questions 15 to 17Erosion of America's farmland by wind and water has been a problem since settlers first put theprairies and grasslands under the plow in the nineteenth century. By the 1930s, more than 282 millionacres of farmland were damaged by erosion. After 40 years of conservation efforts, soil erosion hasaccelerated due to new demands placed on the land by heavy crop production. In the years ahead,soil erosion and the pollution problems it causes are likely to replace petroleum scarcity as thenation's most critical natural resource problem.15. Today, soil erosion in America ___.A. causes humans to place new demands on the land.B. is worse than it was in the nineteenth century.C. happens so slowly that it is hardly noticed.D. is the most critical problem that the nation faces.E. is worse in areas which have a lot of petroleum production.16. The author points out that erosion in America ___.A. has damaged 282 million acres ever since settlers first put the prairies and grasslands under theplough.B. has been so severe that it has forced people to abandon Settlements.C. occurs only in areas with no vegetation.D. can become a more serious problem in the future.E. was on the decline before 1930s.17. It is pointed out that in America ___.A. petroleum is causing heavy soil erosion and pollution problems.B. heavy crop production is necessary to meet the demands and to prevent a disaster.C. soil erosion has been hastened due to the overuse of farming lands.D. water is undoubtedly the largest cause of erosion.E. there are many ways to reduce erosion.Year