Under Your Feet

50

SOIL TO SAND

People’s actions are causing healthy

soil to lose its nutrients and turn into

loose, dry sand. This process

is called desertification. It

is bad news for us and for

the environment.

Deforestation

Trees are chopped down for fuel,

to make things with, and to clear

land for farming. If too many trees are

chopped down without new ones being

planted, this leaves bare soil with no

tree roots to hold the soil in place.

Overgrazing

The main cause of desertification

is overgrazing. Too many animals

grazing and trampling on plants

can lead to soils becoming bare.

The wind then blows or the rain

washes the bare soil away.

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Only a few types

of plants can grow

in desertified land.

Loose soil can

be washed or

blown away.

Wood is used

to make paper.

Dry land has few plants,

which many animals

need to feed on.

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