Drought and desertification threaten the livelihood of more than 1.2 billion people
across 110 countries. Around 2 billion people live in “dry-lands”, which occupy around
40 per cent of the earth´s land surface, while 90 per cent of the people who live in
drylands are from DC (Kingsbury et al. 2012,314). Drought and desertification effect
strongly the development of a country. The town Baga in Nigeria, was once a
fisherman´s village. It was at the coast of the Tschad lake, now it is more than 30km
away from the lake. The increasing desertification of the region at Tschad lake drove the
city to become agriculturally centred, the outcome of desertification for the local
population is significant.
This essay argues for a strong impact of “environmental” problems like desertification
and deforestation on the development of a country. This essay wants to highlight the
importance of these problems for development science. The key argument of this essay
is the reciprocal influence between development and environmental problems.
Development often generates environmental problems, which in turn aggravates future
development.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. Introduction
- II. Explanations of the terms
- II.1. Deforestation
- II.2. Desertification
- III. The reciprocal impact
- III.1. Short term
- III.2. Long-term
- IV. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the interconnectedness between development and environmental problems, specifically focusing on deforestation and desertification. The main objective is to highlight the significant impact of these environmental issues on the development of a country, particularly in developing countries (DCs). The essay argues that development often triggers environmental problems, which in turn negatively affect future development, creating a cycle of reciprocal influence.- The relationship between development and deforestation/desertification.
- The impact of deforestation and desertification on the livelihoods of people in DCs.
- The short-term and long-term effects of development on environmental problems.
- The influence of population growth and agricultural practices on deforestation and desertification.
- The role of economic policies and global market forces in environmental degradation.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter sets the stage by presenting the alarming rates of deforestation and desertification worldwide, emphasizing their impact on biodiversity, livelihoods, and the global climate. It establishes a connection between development and these environmental problems and highlights the importance of understanding their reciprocal influence.
- Explanations of the terms: This chapter provides clear definitions of deforestation and desertification, highlighting the key factors that contribute to their occurrence. It distinguishes between different forms of land-use change, such as logging, agriculture, and swidden agriculture, and clarifies the scope of each term.
- The reciprocal impact: This chapter explores the complex interplay between development and environmental problems. It argues that development strategies, particularly in DCs, often contribute to environmental degradation through factors like population growth, unsustainable agricultural practices, and the adoption of neo-liberal economic policies. This chapter also discusses the consequences of these environmental problems on future development, creating a cycle of reciprocal influence.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This essay focuses on the interconnectedness of development and environmental problems, specifically deforestation and desertification in developing countries. Key terms include: development, deforestation, desertification, population growth, agriculture, environmental degradation, neo-liberal economic policies, reciprocal impact, and sustainable development. The analysis highlights the importance of understanding these concepts in the context of achieving sustainable development in developing countries.- Quote paper
- Andreas Michaelis (Author), 2014, Deforestation and desertification. Critical development issues?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/273552
