The major factors accounting for increasing desertification in the West Africa Sahel are drought?
Answer Details
The major factors accounting for increasing desertification in the West Africa Sahel are overgrazing and overcultivation, in addition to drought. Overgrazing is the act of allowing too many animals to graze in a particular area, leading to soil degradation and depletion of vegetation cover. Overcultivation is the excessive farming of crops on a particular land without adequate land management techniques, leading to the depletion of soil fertility and erosion. These factors, coupled with periodic drought, have led to the expansion of desert areas in the Sahel region of West Africa. Other factors such as deforestation, urbanization, and fuel wood exploitation may also contribute to desertification in some areas, but overgrazing and overcultivation remain the major factors.