How to Help Prevent Desertification

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1Adopting Responsible Agricultural Practices

2Making a Difference Locally and Globally

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Desertification is the process through which fertile land becomes desert. It can be caused by climate change, drought, and irresponsible agriculture practices. Desertification can cause poverty, food and water shortages, and forced migration in some areas. Since these are really severe problems, it’s important to take steps to help prevent desertification. If you farm, you can change your methods to be more environmentally friendly. If you don’t have land, you can use your voice to help make a difference.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Adopting Responsible Agricultural Practices

1. 
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   Use seed drills instead of tilling to prevent erosion. Farmers typically till the land to sow seeds and aerate the soil. This process works but also removes crop residue, which contributes to deforestation. Purchase a seed drill and use that instead. This tool creates small pockets for the seeds to go in but leaves the crop residue in place.

   • You can find seed drills online or wherever you purchase your other farming supplies. Ask an employee to recommend one that’s a good fit for your needs.
2. 
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   Try non-traditional rotations to help restore the land. Non-traditional crops are ones that replace crops that don’t grow well anymore. They can also be specific crops that would really help feed the local community. To do your part to prevent desertification, try switching up what you grow. Non-traditional crops are helpful because they tend to be heartier and may require less irrigation and soil maintenance. Good crops to consider are:

   • Barley
   • Wheat
   • Sunflowers
   • Chickpeas
   • Millet
   • Sorghum
3. 
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   Increase crops and reduce the amount of grazing to reverse change. Huge herds of grazing animals can have devastating effects on the land. If you raise both animals and crops, consider reducing the size of your herd. Plant crops on the land that you no longer need for grazing.
4. 
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   Rotate your herds to different grazing areas to protect plants. Overgrazing by livestock can speed desertification. Periodically move your animals to a different grazing area so that plants and the soil have time to renew. How frequently you do this will depend on where you live and what type of natural vegetation grows on your land.

   • Contact a local expert, maybe from a nearby university, to ask for advice.
5. 
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   Consider updating your irrigation system. Depending on where you farm, you might be able to make changes to improve your irrigation system. Desertification is often caused by drought, so if you can irrigate your land, you can help prevent that. If your irrigation system hasn't been updated in several years, there might be a newer, more effective, and efficient system you could try. Look into earth dams as a possible solution. These dams can store water during the wet season and you can use that to irrigate crops during the dry season.

   • Talk to other farmers or local experts that live in your region. Irrigation practices vary widely, so it’s a good idea to gather advice from those who have first-hand knowledge of your environment.
6. 
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   Plant trees to prevent erosion. Trees and their roots help keep the soil from blowing away, causing more desertification. For the best results, plant trees that are native to your region. They will adapt best to the local climate and also help sustain other native plants.

   • Allow the trees to grow naturally so that they might replicate the original ecosystem.
   • You can also try planting other native plants. They can have similar benefits as trees.
7. 
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   Research best practices in your region. Where you live has a lot to do with how you can best prevent desertification. Reach out to a local university and ask for information. They should have an agricultural extension office that can provide you with a lot of resources. You can also head to your local library and ask a librarian to point you towards some good sources.

   • Talk to other farmers in your area to find out what their best practices are.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Making a Difference Locally and Globally

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   Organize a tree planting event in your community. Planting trees is one of the best ways to combat climate change, so it also helps prevent desertification. If you have a yard, head to your local nursery and get some trees to plant. To make it a community event, reach out to local government as ask about guidelines for planting trees in public areas. Organize some volunteers, follow the local rules, and plant some trees.

   • Reach out to people you know on social media and ask them to help spread the word. You could also post on neighborhood and community websites. Another way to reach people is to post fliers in busy locations, like a popular coffee shop.
   • Ask local businesses to donate money or supplies to help cover the cost.
2. 
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   Make simple changes at home to be more green. There are lots of easy lifestyle changes that you can make to help the environment. Try switching all of your bills to be paperless. Most businesses have a spot on their website where you can specify that you only want to receive electronic bills and communications. Some other ideas include:

   • Recycling at home and buying recycled items.
   • Eating less meat or becoming a vegetarian or vegan.
   • Reducing your energy consumption by using your heater and air conditioning less.
   • Using a reusable water bottle.
3. 
   3
   Contact lawmakers and ask them to promote legislation to protect the land. Lawmakers can have a tremendous impact on creating new laws to protect the environment. Contact your representative and let them know that preventing desertification is important to you. Let them know that you would like them to support legislation that holds corporations responsible for their practices. You can also encourage them to push for laws that will regulate agriculture to ensure that farmers and ranchers use sustainable practices.

   • A phone call or email is typically the best way to contact your representatives.
4. 
   4
   Educate your family and friends by sharing your knowledge. When you make changes in your home, tell your family why you’re making them. This will help them understand the importance of what you’re trying to do. If you have kids, start teaching them about the environment at an early age to create responsible habits.

   • You don’t have to bombard people with information. You can just bring it up naturally. For example, if you’re out shopping with a friend, explain to them why you are being so rigorous about buying recyclable items making responsible choices.
5. 
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   Make charitable donations to organizations fighting desertification. If you can afford it, donating money to organizations that promote environmental change is a great way to make an impact. Do a quick internet search for global organizations working to create change. Before you donate, look carefully at the organization’s website. There should be easy-to-find information about how they use their funding. If there’s not, consider choosing a different organization.

   • Some good choices include The Natural Resources Defense Council, The Environmental Defense Fund, and The Nature Conservancy.
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Tips

• Consider volunteering with a local organization that works to protect the environment.
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• Use social media to connect with others that have similar goals. You can share ideas with others and learn from them in return.
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