Question

"The land degradation due to man-made processes has greater concern than natural processes." Evaluate the statement with examples.

Hint:

Man-made actions like deforestation and over-irrigation are major causes of land degradation and require urgent attention.

Answer 1

Man-induced activities are the primary drivers of land degradation in India, offering greater control than natural processes.
Deforestation: Extensive forest clearing for agriculture and urbanization results in soil erosion and diminished fertility.
Overgrazing: Unregulated animal grazing degrades vegetation and exposes the soil.
Over-irrigation: Leads to waterlogging and salinization, thereby decreasing soil productivity.
Mining: Surface mining operations remove topsoil and contaminate land and water sources. Conversely, natural factors such as floods and droughts impact land but occur less frequently and extensively than persistent human-caused damage.