Table of Contents
An opening remark
Methods for Research
Food Production and the African Savanna
Climate is important in growing food
Human Activity Threatening Food Security
Relationships Between Human Environments And Cultivated Ground
Examining
Take a decision
To conclude,
Beginning
A biome is an area that contains many plants and animals with similar characteristics. It occupies a significant habitat. The African Savannas, which make up the majority of Earth’s grassland biodiversity, are vital for providing food resources to the global population. The African grassland biome’s protection is crucial for food security. It can also be managed to provide food to the global population. This is evidently shown and understood through the African Savanna and food productivity, the suitability and environmental consequences of growing crops in the African Savanna. Climate also plays a role in food security. The report will also include analysis and decision-making.
Methods for ResearchA variety of sources were used as a way to verify the accuracy and credibility of the information. This report was compiled from secondary sources, including graph and image sources. These sources will be referenced throughout the report. These sources will appear in the Appendix and in the Body of the Report. The report will also include additional information from books, textbooks and other sources. This biome is vital in providing food for the entire world. However, it is continually under threat from human threats like overfarming. Genetically modified food is the best solution to preserve the African Savannas.
The African Savannas play a vital role in food production. The African Savannas are a region that covers 5,000,000 square miles. This is approximately 12.9 million square kilometers. As shown in Figure 1, this region covers nearly 65 percent Africa. Savannas lie between the rainforest biome & desert biome, which are both located close to the equator.
Food Production and the African Savanna All these foods and fibers are produced by the grassland biodiversity. This biome provides the majority of the food for the human population, including the main food grains, such as corn, wheat and barley. Other foods are also produced in the African Savanna, including rice, grasses of different types, and grazing animals like cattle and sheep that can be used for their milk as well as their meat.
Because of the rich soil, grassland biomes can play an important role in crop growth. The biome has deep soil that is fertile and provides the plants with the ability to withstand the droughts and dry seasons. Many grasses need fire to germinate. They are also water-fed with rain, but they will still require nutrients from the irrigation system due to climate changes. There are many farming techniques that can be used in a grassland Biome, such as wheat farming. This is done in mid-latitude climates.
Like all biomes in Africa, the African Savanna is subject to many threats. Drought is the most serious threat to Africa’s Savanna. Heavy grazing is another. Drought and heavy grazing have always been a danger to the ecosystem of Africa Savanna. The combination of drought, heavy grazing and dry weather can change the biome. It may become less rich in perennial and edible grasses and more populated with non-edible grasses. Desertification occurs when the biome is altered. Desertification can also be described as the spreading of desert conditions within grassland areas. This is caused by climate change and farming practices. Each year, 46 000 km2 of Africa’s Savanna become deserted as a result. Carbon emissions, which are closely linked to climate change, is another threat to grassland biome. An analysis done in 2012 revealed that grassland biomes are experiencing a significant increase in woody plants. The increase in atmospheric CO2 was the cause, according to the researchers. As woody plants are more water-intensive than grasses, it could lead to a drastic increase in Savanna’s population. Introduced plant species pose a threat to Africa’s Savanna. Most of these weeds cause significant environmental damage and create major problems. Lantana and Prickly Pear are just a few examples of these weeds. These plants can alter fire frequency, making it burn worse or better than it would normally. They also increase pressure from heavy grazing.
Africa is home to a large number of people. Most of them rely on the land for their food. Africa was less densely populated in the past, so farmers were able to use the land more effectively. They could choose the most fertile soil and then grow their crops there until soil fertility and yields decline. Then they could move to fertiler land. The farmers were able to supply enough food while maintaining soil fertility for the long-term. There was an increase in population density and people depended on particular areas of land for food supplies. This resulted in more land being cultivated over a greater time span, which increased the soil’s capacity and led to soil exhaustion. The African Savanna zone is most at-risk of losing agricultural production. In recent years, it has been greatly affected by droughts and food shortages.
Climate’s Role in Growing FoodClimate plays vital role in grassland biome. It is crucial for food security and the growth of food. Climate change can cause grasslands to experience increased temperature variability and changes in precipitation patterns. Like all other grassland biomes the African Savanna has a dry climate. It is very sensitive to climatic shifts and changes in the climatic cycle. The African Savanna can experience prolonged periods of severe drought. This could cause significant changes to the vegetation cover. This will lead to a decline in vegetative cover. The soil’s fertility will drop noticeably as a result of decreased vegetation and more intense precipitation. The Savanna’s soil fertility will decrease, resulting in crops and food sources not receiving the nutrients they require to thrive. This will lead to a significant drop in food security. It is crucial to know the time period during which plants are exposed to extreme heat and drought. Flowering and fruiting crops are more susceptible to changes in temperature or moisture than other stages. Temperature, rainfall, and other factors can affect the growth season.
Human Activity That Threatens Food Security The Savanna ecosystem is constantly under threat from human activity. Food security is threatened by population growth, increased food demand, rising food prices, decreasing agricultural plant diversity, water scarcity and food loss. Due to the rapid growth of Africa’s population, which is primarily due to the high birth rates in the developing countries, feeding the world’s population is one the most pressing issues today. Sub-Saharan Africa will have 1.3 billion inhabitants by 2025. This will increase the demand on land and resources. The African Savanna’s grassland biome is also at risk from human activities, such as people killing wildlife to survive or hunting wildlife for their valuables. Plant species are heavily harvested for their commercial value and trees like the African Blackwood are used for carvings.
Human Environments and Cultivated LandAgriculture is a dominant method of managing land. Rapid population growth and growing food demand means that human influence is increasing rapidly on the land. This increases the intensity of agriculture and puts pressure on the land as well as the biome and the ecosystem. The world’s cultivated area has increased by 12% over the last 500 years. This means that more 1.6 billion hectares have been planted. This establishes a strong relationship between human environments, cultivated land and the environment. The population depends on the cultivated land for the resources necessary to produce healthy and productive environments. The African Savanna relies on the land to grow its majority of food. This makes land use an important factor in food security. Before the invention of improved crop cultivators, industrial fertilisers, and modern livestock breeders, farmers used agriculture to produce more food. These advances allowed for a dramatic increase in food production from the same area.
AnalysisDrought and heavygrazing are two major threats to Africa’s Savanna. Biomes must adapt to any threat in order to continue producing and growing. Most plant species must adapt to this new environment in order to thrive. Plants develop tap roots over time to protect themselves against drought and soil erosion. Trees also produce thicker bark to cover their trunks and roots during dry seasons to preserve water and prevent moisture loss. To prevent overgrazing and heavy growth, plants create siliceous spines to stop herbivores.
Both government and non-governmental organizations are trying to solve these problems in various ways. Farmers are especially keen to grow plants that support the land’s ecosystem and protect it from erosion. Kenyan farmers have planted millions of trees to create windbreaks that reduce soil erosion. Millions of dollars are earned annually by tourists to Africa’s wildlife reserves. The money is used to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the African Savanna’s wildlife areas and ecosystems. Eco-tourism holidays aim to decrease the negative impacts tourism has on the biome. WWF, for example, works to ensure that tourism does not harm the environment.
To ensure that the African Savanna is sustainable, non-governmental and government organizations must work together. There are many management methods you can use. The yield gap can be closed as the best strategy for achieving sustainability. The yield gap is the strategy that less productive farmers must use to increase their production to match that of more productive ones. This would enable greater food production, without the need for additional land. Another strategy is to educate farmers about soil protection and soil erosion. Protecting and restoring wetlands are also possible. Dry season can stimulate new plant growth, restore soil nutrients, and fire can help native plants thrive.
Decision MakingThere are three options available to support food security in Africa Savanna’s grassland biome. These options are microloans as well as research on food and genetically altered food. While all of these options could provide a strong support system for grassland, genetically modified foods would be the best option to ensure food security in Africa Savanna. Genetically modified food (GM) is food that has been created from genetically engineered DNA. The African Savanna is the world’s largest grassland and produces a lot of food every year. However, it experiences prolonged periods of drought, which can have an impact on plant production and grazing patterns. Genetically modified food is a way to help increase food production. It alters the DNA of crops so that they are more vulnerable to drought or other threats to the grassland ecome. This allows for a greater production. A larger crop production will result in more food being available for the poor and malnourished populations of developing countries.
ConclusionIn conclusion the protection and management of the African grassland biome can have a direct impact on food security. This will ensure that there is enough food for all peoples. The majority of food resources used by the world’s people come from the African Savanna. The biome and the ecosystem are affected by the growing of these crops. The biome most at risk is the grasslands, so it is imperative that they are protected.
