Human-environment
interaction
DESERTIFICATION:
1) expansion of the desert being caused by humans
-farming
-Overgrazing (sfruttamento) livestock
-Animals trample the soil } direct causes
-Drilling for irrigation
-Population is an indirect cause of desertification
OIL IN NIGERIA:
1) Discovered in 1956
2) In the 1970’s oil prices were high so Nigeria became wealthy and borrowed money from
other countries based on future oil sales
3) Then prices of oil fell and their economy failed ( poor planning, corruption,
mismanagement left Nigeria poorer than before ).
4) The damaged to the environment has been severe ( clean-up efforts slow or non-
existent)
5) Fires cause acid rain, respiratory diseases
6) Oil pipeline explosions kill thousands of people
ASWAN HIGH DAM:
1) Built to control the Nile’s flood waters
2) Completed in 1970 and created lake Nasser shared with Sudan
Pros:
-regular supply of water to
use for irrigation
-can have more harvests
-Increased farmable land by
50%
Cons:
-people had to be relocated
-Some ancient treasures had to
be moved or destroyed
-farmers have to buy expensive
fertiliser and field drains
- malaria has increased
