Effects of desertification in rural area of geidam local government area, yobe state.

Desertification is one of the most pressing environmental problems of our present time. The term is used to describe a form of land degradation in arid, semi arid and dry sub humid areas. The phenomenon occurs on all continents of the world except Antarctica, mostly affecting poor and developing countries. The main aim of the research work was to assess the level of the environmental impact of desertification in the rural areas of Geidam local government area of Yobe State. This was achieved by determining how the climatic conditions and type and amount of vegetation of the study area has changed over time, establishing the rate of deterioration of water supply as a result of the onset of desertification, assessing the level of the economic situation caused by the impending disaster and examining how desertification has changed the population pattern of the study area over the years. Various human activities which include deforestation, overgrazing, bush burning, miss use of water resources among others have combined with the natural environment to cause the problem. The vulnerability of the environment to desertification has been exacerbated by the rapid expansion of the Sahel coming in from the North. Different materials were used to obtain information about climate parameters, past histories, population etc. All these data were appropriately referenced. Questionnaire method of obtaining information was employed. This was assisted by personal interviews which involved asking questions from the questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis analysis was used to get frequency distribution tables and percentages to determine the variables. The result of the research work revealed that the environment has been affected in various ways including the increase in the average temperature of the environment which has caused a drop in animal production and increased the frequency of illnesses amongst both humans and animals. Furthermore, rainfall has drastically reduced over the years and cultivation of crops is now very difficult. This has been compounded by the fact that vast land areas have been converted to sand dunes where the fertility of the soils are nothing but unproductive. All these effects have been further aggravated by the lack of vegetation which has been as a result of the indiscriminate felling of trees mostly for fuel. Populations are drastically reducing especially in those areas where the situation is very severe due to the lack of means to earn a living. These large migrations are bringing about increased conflicts and are making it hard for security to be enforced. Despite all these problems the environment has faced, it is still never too late if proper and effective control and preventive measures will be taken, but the war is far from over.