By Mike Artman

DevelopmentDevelopment

Paving roads, Paving roads,

constructing houses, and constructing houses, and

clearing land for farms are clearing land for farms are

considered development. Even considered development. Even

though we may need to develop though we may need to develop

to survive doing this will also kill to survive doing this will also kill

many wildlife habitats. many wildlife habitats.

ErosionErosionHave you ever Have you ever

wondered what erosion is?Erosion wondered what erosion is?Erosion

is when wind, water or ice move is when wind, water or ice move

dirt and rocks. Roots from plants dirt and rocks. Roots from plants

like trees can help stop the like trees can help stop the

process of erosion. Rain and process of erosion. Rain and

weather can cause erosion. weather can cause erosion.

Working the land can also cause Working the land can also cause

erosion.erosion.

MiningMining

Mining is when you remove a nonrenewable Mining is when you remove a nonrenewable

resource from the ground. There are different processes resource from the ground. There are different processes

of mining. One process is strip mining. Strip mining is of mining. One process is strip mining. Strip mining is

when you acquire the minerals from dirt near the top when you acquire the minerals from dirt near the top

layers of earth and then replace the dirt. However, this layers of earth and then replace the dirt. However, this

process can cause the land to stay unfruitful for years. process can cause the land to stay unfruitful for years.

Another type of mining is underground mining. This is Another type of mining is underground mining. This is

when tunnels are built deep into the Earth and the dirt when tunnels are built deep into the Earth and the dirt

is brought up through a shaft. is brought up through a shaft.

AgricultureAgricultureMost of the world can’t be used for Most of the world can’t be used for

farming because the ground is either too farming because the ground is either too

salty, too dry or too wet, or it is too salty, too dry or too wet, or it is too

mountainous. Farmland is needed to feed mountainous. Farmland is needed to feed

people and livestock to survive. The land people and livestock to survive. The land

must be prepared to grow food through must be prepared to grow food through

various ways. Cutting down trees in wooded various ways. Cutting down trees in wooded

areas, irrigating dry farm land or draining areas, irrigating dry farm land or draining

over wet lands are ways of preparing the land over wet lands are ways of preparing the land

for farming.for farming.

Nutrient DepletionNutrient Depletion When soil becomes less fertile is called When soil becomes less fertile is called

nutrient depletion. A way that will prevent nutrient depletion. A way that will prevent

nutrient depletion is to fallow fields which is nutrient depletion is to fallow fields which is

when you leave a field unplanned for a season when you leave a field unplanned for a season

or two. Another way that farmers tackle is to or two. Another way that farmers tackle is to

do crop rotation which is when a farmer do crop rotation which is when a farmer

switches between two fields and leaves one switches between two fields and leaves one

follow and the other planted. follow and the other planted.

DesertificationDesertification

What is desertification. Over the cores of What is desertification. Over the cores of

past 50 years there have been about 5 billion past 50 years there have been about 5 billion

hectare of land. Desertification is sometimes hectare of land. Desertification is sometimes

because is climate and during this period of because is climate and during this period of

drought plants can't grow. Desertification is a drought plants can't grow. Desertification is a

serious issue because people can't feed there serious issue because people can't feed there

livestock or give them water.livestock or give them water.

Restoring the LandRestoring the Land

Thankfully after land is damaged humans Thankfully after land is damaged humans

can restore the land back to its previous state, can restore the land back to its previous state,

which is called land reclamation. Not only can which is called land reclamation. Not only can

we restore the land we can also restore the we restore the land we can also restore the

habitats that were once there. An example of habitats that were once there. An example of

land reclamation is when a company is done land reclamation is when a company is done

mining in an area they put the soil back were it mining in an area they put the soil back were it

was and plant grass.was and plant grass.

ReviewReview• What is erosion-What is erosion-is when wind, water or ice move dirt is when wind, water or ice move dirt

and rocksand rocks

• What is Development-Paving roads, constructing What is Development-Paving roads, constructing

houses, and clearing land for farmshouses, and clearing land for farms

• What is Mining-when you remove a nonrenewable What is Mining-when you remove a nonrenewable

resource from the groundresource from the ground

• What is Nutrient Depletion-When soil becomes less What is Nutrient Depletion-When soil becomes less

fertilefertile

• What is Desertification-When you have farmland that What is Desertification-When you have farmland that

becomes a desertbecomes a desert

• What is Land Reclamation-after land is damaged What is Land Reclamation-after land is damaged

humans can restore the land back to its previous humans can restore the land back to its previous

statestate