The main causes of land degradation contributing to the vicious circle of poverty-resource degradation-scarcity-poverty

Natural Factors: High potential for degradation - steep slopes, unstable geology, short periods of heavy rainfall, high speed winds, flooding, drought

Demand Factors: Rapid increase in human and livestock population; increase in people's aspirations for a better livelihood.

Unsound Management Practices: Uncontrolled and excessive grazing, poor soil management practices, improper forest harvesting, unmanaged mining activities

Other Harmful Practices: Setting of forest fires, environmentally unsound infrastructural activities

Policy Related Factors: Land ownership issues, unplanned urbanisation, inappropriate land-use policies, lack of environmentally sound guidelines for resource use, inappropriate economic policies.


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