Land Use Conflicts
- Footpath Erosion on Helvellyn - As the ground is trampled, vegetation is unable to grownand the soil is exposed. With periods of rain this becomes muddy so people walk off the path. The path gets worn away further and becomes a scar on landscape.
- Traffic Cogestion in Keswick - People park on sie of narrow roads which is blocking traffic. People are attracted to honeypot sites, these towns are not big enough to support large volumes of traffic. Restricted parking and traffic jams mean increased air pollution. Congestion makes people frustrated, especially locals or businesses trying to make deliveries as it increases delivery time, fuel consumption and costs.
- Lake Windemere - The lake is used for a variety of activities eg. powerboating, jet skis, kayaks, swimming. Bank erosion from waves. Congestion in water and roads is dangerous. Water pollution from fuel spills and litter. Noise pollution can disrupt locals and wildlife.
- Kirkstone Quarry - creates a scar on the landscape and can restrict tourist trade. Noise from blasting and heavy vehicles. Blasting creates fine dust which is unnatractive to look at. Heavy vehicles block narrow roads.
Solutions and Effectiveness to Land Use Conflicts
- Solutions - signposts (signs are put up reminding tourists to stick to the paths and not wander), cloche netting (mats put down to protect underlying ground), stone pitching (local stone used to create footpaths, fix the fells holidays (holidays where people volunteer to help with stone pitching).
- Effectiveness - not everyone will take time to read signs, cloche netting looks unnatural, stone pitching can look unnatural, successful in educating small groups of tourists and making improvements.
- Solutions - “Go Lakes” programme (plan sustainable modes of transport), bus timetables with attraction leaflets, park and ride (park in designated car park then get on a bus), large car parks on outside if town.
- Effectiveness - only works for big towns and people may make spontaneous trips, encourages use of public transport but route and time restrictions, car is more convenient, reduces congestion and noise/air pollution as welll as saves buildings from vibrations damage.
- Solutions - reinforced banks (rocks and wire mesh used to hold banks together), zoning (certain activities are restricted to specific areas), speed limit on lake.
- Effectiveness - reduces erosion from waves but can look unnatractive, restricts where activities can take place, people less annoyed, reduces accident potential and makes experience more pleasant for tourists.
- Solutions - screen with trees (plant a wall of trees to block view of quarry), limit blasting times to stop noise pollution, spray quarry with water jets, limit lorry times.
- Effectiveness - trees take time to grow and could look unnatural, not convenient as its a business that has to make money, reduces amohntof dust and waste but washes into streams, not possible as tourists and locals are always present.
Tourists vs Farmers
- Tourist dogs not on lead - sheep worrying - sheep may abort lambs - farmer loses money. “Keep dog on lead signs”
- Gates are left open by tourists - livestock escape and could be killed on road or farmer have to spend time gathering them up. Put up signs, use styles, self-closing or kissing gates.
- Tourists drop litter - unsightly, polluting, livestock will eat and die. Take away bins to encourage taking litter home.
- Tourists climb over walls - knock them down - expensive to repair. Styles.
Second Homes
Buyers can afford to pay more than asking price so locals can’t compete so are forced to move away especially young first time buyers. Not enough houses for population.
Higher tax to pay on second homes.
Impact of Land Degredation
Social
1. Crop failure and death of livestock will lead to starvation and malnutrition.
2. As people struggle to survive, there may be large scale migration to urban areas. This in turn can cause additional pressure on already overcrowded areas such as shanty towns and on already scarce resources such as water.
3. Social tensions and conflict can arise in areas as people fight over land and food.
4. Many people who leave their land may end up in refugee camps where conditions may be poor and disease may spread rapidly.
5. A loss of traditional knowledge, skills and farming eg pastoral nomadism means that cultures change. Lack of education means that people struggle to learn new skills and many have to give up their way of life.
Economic
1. A decrease in available fuel-wood, resulting in people buying alternative fuels which can be more expensive and can release CO2 accelerating climate change.
2. Expansion of the desert into the semi-arid land leads to a reduction in the land available for cropping and pasture. This can lead to less crops being produced which recuces farmers produce/income. This in turn can mean they have less money to buy what they need, to send their children to school etc.
3. Many affected countries may have to rely on international aid from abroad - they may end up having to pay back high interest loans.
Environmental
1. Increased environmental damage as a result of wind and water erosion. This causes desertification and the advance of the Sahara Desert.
2. A change and loss of fauna and flora and a reduction in the biodiversity of the landscape, which can affect food chains and wildlife.
Management of Land Degredation
- Movable Fences - Farmers restrict grazing animals to specific areas of land to allow remaining land to recover. Allows farmers to move animals between fence areas to reduce over-grazing and trampling of soil.
- Crop Rotation - Grow different crops on a patch each year, or move farmed area around to allow soil to recover its minerals and fertility.
- Reafforestation - In drier areas trees can be planted in a ditch to encourage water to collect there.
- Magic Stones - Stone lines are built following contours which stops soil being washed downslope. Soil builds up behind stones, encouraging infiltration of water & therefore better crop growth.
- Energy Efficient Stoves - Mud stoves put in everyone’s houses in Mali by the government. Uses 80% less fuelwood compared to traditional stoves.
- Irrigation - Artificial watering of crops from stored water. This keeps the soil moist, allowing crops to grow and preventing soil being blown away.
- Terracing - Steps cut into sides of slopes reduces runoff retaining topsoil and water.
