Activity One - Watch

It is easy to discuss the issues of desertification when in reality it does not have a huge impact on our daily lives. For some of you it will or has been a fun, although hot, day out in the Sahara during the Morocco trip. How the changes in the landscape are dramatically impacting the fabric of desert communities may not be at the fore of your minds when you explore desert landscape. For some people in the world the warming temperatures and lack of rainfall are having a huge impact on their health and forcing others to migrate. In fact, it is being predicted that 1.2 billion people will be forced to move due to the damage caused to ecosystems by the changing climate. Watch the youtube clip below and write notes on how climate change is impacting people who live in the Sahara (this can also be used for the Climate Change section of Paper 2 when we look at impacts). 

Useful Resource

Activity Two - Debate

Now you have developed some empathy for the people that live in and around areas at risk of desertification we are going to consider how it is caused. On the A4 white boards (or on paper) write down all the causes of desertification that you can explain. On the other side of the white board write down all the consequences. Use the link in the 'Useful Resource' box to help you. 

Activity Three - Case Study

So now that you know what desertification is and how it is caused we need to create a case study on the causes, impacts and mitigation of desertification for a specific area. As it is a case study you could be asked to write a whole essay on this one specific syllabus point. Do remember though that you can also link this to the core units of Climate Change and Resources. The food, water, energy nexus is crucial for security of regions and countries and the lack of water endangers this security. We are going to be exploring Morocco. Some of you have visited Zagora first hand and seen the encroachment of the desert onto the farmland. You have seen the challenges that this fragile environment is now facing. For our case study you will be watching the YouTube clip in the 'Useful Resources' box below. Make notes on the following points:

• How climate change has been a catalyst to desertification.

• How the changes in land use has been a factor in the cause of desertification.

• How conflict and disputes have led to desertification.

• The geographical impacts of desertification on the region. Remember to think social, economic, environmental, and political when focusing on the impacts.

  • • • • • Don't forget data!

Useful Resources

Activity Four - Mitigation

Now you know about the key issues that are caused by desertification in an already fragile region, we need to discover what we can do about it. The Great Green Wall is a mitigation technique that has been devised to increase the amount of arable land in the Sahel region of Africa. The Sahel can be found bordering the Sahara Desert and 11 nations are investing in this sustainable development and agroforestry project. For this activity you are going to listen to the BBC podcast on The Great Green Wall and you are going to make notes on the following points:

• What the Great Green Wall is.

• Different strategies that aim to develop the wall - consider place.

• The success of the project.

• The failures of the project.

• Remember to include data in your notes.

Useful Resources