In North Africa, overgrazing has contributed to what environmental challenge

In North Africa, overgrazing has contributed to what environmental challenge

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

Correct Answer:
Desertification

Explanation

Desertification is a major environmental challenge in North Africa, and overgrazing is one of its primary contributors. This process refers to the degradation of once-fertile land into arid, unproductive desert. North Africa, with its fragile arid and semi-arid ecosystems, is especially vulnerable to this issue.

Overgrazing occurs when livestock, such as goats, sheep, and camels, feed on plants faster than they can naturally regenerate. In North Africa, where pastoralism is a traditional way of life, the growing number of animals—often beyond the land’s carrying capacity—has led to significant vegetation loss. As animals continuously graze the same land without sufficient recovery time, the grasses and shrubs that hold the soil together are depleted. This loss of plant cover exposes the soil to wind and water erosion.

Once the topsoil is eroded, it becomes increasingly difficult for vegetation to regrow. The soil loses its fertility and ability to retain moisture, turning once-productive land into barren ground. In extreme cases, these areas can become full deserts, further expanding the Sahara and other arid zones in the region.

Climate change, droughts, and poor land management practices amplify the effects of overgrazing. As vegetation disappears, local climates may become hotter and drier, reducing rainfall and further promoting desertification. This creates a vicious cycle, making it even harder for the land to recover.

Desertification threatens food security, reduces water availability, and forces people to migrate, increasing poverty and social tensions. To combat this, sustainable grazing practices, reforestation, and land restoration programs are needed. Governments and local communities must work together to balance livestock populations with the land’s capacity, implement rotational grazing, and invest in environmental education to ensure long-term land productivity and ecosystem health in North Africa.