Sudan

Sudan is in north eastern Africa and is suffering greatly from desertification. The land in Sudan lacks water and the forestation is diminishing. The lack of water is due to the climate and weather of this area and the deforestation is being caused in part by Darfur. The rainfall in Sudan is very low, some areas only get up to 24 millimeters of rain each year. The least rainfall is in the northern part of Sudan and this is where desertification is the biggest problem. In southern Sudan there is more rainfall so desertification is less of an issue, but the desert is encroaching on healthy land.

Darfur is causing camps to be created throughout Sudan, this is causing many people to be in one area all at one time. The grazing of livestock, farming, and collection of firewood in these areas contribute a considerable amount to the deforestation and loss of vegetation. Sudan is suffering from desertification, but the desertification in Sudan is stemming from another problem that they are faced with, Darfur. In order to prevent, and hopefully decrease desertification, political and social problems within Sudan must be addressed first.

TUNISIA DESERTIFICATION

Nick Brown

One major problem throughout Northern Africa is desertification, Tunisia having one of the worst overall soil conditions of all. Poor farming techniques such as overgrazing, deforestation, soil erosion, and a limited supply of natural sources of freshwater are all contributing to the problem of desertification. Agricultural land is growing extinct, not only because of desertification, but also because of increased salinity and siltation due to increased erosion of soil. Desertification and Tunisia’s failure to dispose of toxic and hazardous materials now endanger the health of its human population. Extinction is a common factor in the country of Tunisia not just in terms of plants and agricultural crop, but animals and humans. (see Threatened/Extinct species data tables) Living conditions are so bad currently, that animals don’t have a supporting environment and humans can barely get by. (soil erosion is leading to increased siltation and salinization of Tunisia's freshwater supply) Also, like many countries, Tunisia has fallen far short of the ideal global total of ten percent of its land under some sort of environmental protection, protecting less than half a percent of its land. (.3%)

Threatened Species

Mammals	17
Birds	6
Reptiles	2
Amphibians	0
Fish	0
Invertebrates	5
Plants	1

Extinct Species

Mammals	1
Birds	0
Reptiles	0
Amphibians	0
Fish	0
Invertebrates	0
Plants	792

*One of the many barren wastelands of Tunisia*

Desertification In Ghana

In Ghana desertification is a strong issue that needs to be coped with. Most of Ghana's land are dry lands considered as deserts. Almost three quarters of Ghana's land are already degraded to some degree. Its seems as if the drought over time is making the situation worse. Crops and vegetables that people in Ghana usually grow has declined for the most part. Most African countries are landlocked and are suffering from poverty. They are really depending on their natural resources. Some people say that 35 percent of Ghana's land is said to be under the threat of desertification. The soil fertilization is on a decline on behalf of desertification. In the Graph above it shows how Ghana and most of Africa has been affected by desertification it shows the Soil Degradation .

Ghana has been suffering from desertification for some time now. Some of the major issues are shown the map above. The red shows the very degraded areas. The orange shows the degraded soil. The tan shows the stable soil and it only shows small areas compared to the others. The gray shows the areas that are being dried out the most and that are suffering without vegetation.
What is being done about desertification in Ghana. A program was made to help the drought in Ghana. This program is helping the poverty issue and the vegetation issue. Its helping pay for seeds to be planted in the stable soil areas. Making so that Ghana's vegetation issue will be on the up rise.

Desertification in Tanzania

          In Tanzania desertification is being found as a big problem. Tanzania is a very under-developed country, and it has been found that the least developed countries need assistance. They need to be getting the assistance from the developed world if they want their country to be okay. Recently in Tanzania; droughts, floods, windstorms, and desertification are more frequent than ever before. Another huge impact is food security is increasingly threatened because of failed harvests.
          Africa is been effected greatly by desertification, and not in a good way. In the image below it shows what areas have been hit by desertification. It's hard to read the key but it says that the darkest areas are now true desert. The middle color areas have an acute risk of desertification, and last the lightest color has a moderate to great risk or desertification. This image is a great way to see how desertification is growing and spreading throughout the continent.



          Some of Tanzania's major environmental issues include: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; and, wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory. It is susceptible to flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; and to drought. You can see in the satellite image below that parts of the country are very dry and brown, and lacking any vegetation. This country and other poor countries like Tanzania really need help basically saving their agriculture and land. Desertification only spreads, and it won't go away without a lot of help.