Zakarian 1

Kyndal Zakarian

Ludwig

English H101

11 October 2017

Desertification

Humans have inhabited the earth for thousands of years. With civilization comes the use

of the planet's natural resources. Many issues have surfaced because humans have become

dependent on these resources, but are not taking the proper action to preserve and conserve such

resources. One must acknowledge that these resources are not infinite and if not preserved will

run out. Don Marquis is an American journalist born in the late 1800s known for his creation of

lively characters and exploration of pressing issues. He often uses humor to disclose such issues

in order to gain a receptive audience through a more sympathetic convention. Marquis calls

attention to the impact of desertification in his poem what the ants are saying. Desertification

is defined by Google Dictionary as the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as

a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture. Marquis uses a cockroach named

Archy as the speaker to convey a relaxed and non-hypocritical tone in order to convince his

audience that humans are responsible for desertification, and once deserts take over the earth

only insects will survive. It is important to recognize that while humans have exacerbated the

situation, natural factors are also accountable for desertification but, with education

desertification can diminish.

Marquis repeats consistently that it won't be long now (235) to give the reader a sense

of warning and urgency. He goes on to claim that it won't be long now/ before man will have

used it up/ so that nothing but ants/ and centipedes and scorpions/ can find living on it (235-
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236). It is assumed to be the earth's natural resources that humans are so rapidly consuming.

Marquis uses Archy as the narrator to demonstrate an unbiased opinion. Since all humans are

claimed to be responsible for the desertification of the earth, Archy provides the insects point of

view. He gives examples of past civilizations that have fallen due to wasted nature (236) to

prove his point that humans have ruined the land before and will continue to make deserts out of

the earth until there is no liveable land left. Archy warns that if humans do not take action then

only the ants and centipedes and scorpions (236) will survive. This will lead to the humans

loss of control of the earth and ultimately their demise through their own practices.

In his book Insect Ecology: An Ecosystem Approach, Timothy D. Schowalter negates

Marquiss above claim and believes that insects will not outlive the human race. According to

Schowalter, deforestation, desertification, urbanization, and other changes in regional

landscapes are fragmenting and converting habitats altering habitat sustainability for organisms

around the globe (57). As these factors impact the land, their inhabitants are affected as well

and ... given insect sensitivity to environmental changes any change will alter insect abundance

(57). Schowalter discerns that any modifications to the environment will impact the quantity of

insects. It could be assumed that insect populations will increase because it is only stated that the

insect population will be altered, rather than how. Given that desertification influences land in

such a substantial way it is logical to conclude that it is not probable for insects to survive such

harsh changes in conditions. Due to high sensitivity it is probable to conclude that insects will

not respond well the such drastic, negative changes that desertification permits, and thrive.

Schowalter proves that desertification will not only lead to the collapse of the human race but,

the decline of insect populations.

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There are two main factors that cause desertification: human interference and natural

causes. The Forestry Department of FAO Corporate Document Repository claims that, human

activities are the main factors triggering desertification processes on vulnerable land while

Marquis asserts that humans are the only components. One natural force that can cause

desertification is climate change. Humans do impact climate change in some ways but, Dr. Mrs.

Nwankwoala in her piece Causes of Climate and Environmental Changes: The need for

Environmental-Friendly Education Policy in Nigeria states that some changes in the climate are

due to the earths natural processes (226). In other words, climate change can be attributed to

other factors rather than only human failure to protect ones environment. The responsibility of

desertification is very complex because lands must be prone to this issue, naturally, before

humans aggravate this sustainability issue. Such elements that cause vulnerability are climate,

water erosion, state of soil, and natural vegetation. It is a very particular combination that causes

land to undergo desertification as natural factors must be provoked by human factors. Most

responsibility for desertification, however, does land on humans as the overuse of land and

deforestation can cause drought and soils to become too dry. When the soil is eroded vegetation

dies and new growth is impaired. Coupled with the processes that cannot be controlled such as,

volcanic eruptions, ocean variations, solar variations, Plate tectonics, Thermohaline

circulations, etc (Nwankwoala 224) the land becomes much more susceptible to desertification.

It is not believed that humans are purposely causing harm to the land but rather it is their

ignorance regarding one's impact on the environment. Areas with higher rates of poverty are

more likely to become desertified as resources are drained at rapid rates. The desire for survival

outweighs the possible long term consequences brought upon the land so often that the important

elements are destroyed. The countries that are less developed will face the long term effects of
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desertification as they exploit resources and do not have the means needed to preserve the region.

While humans are not solely responsible for the onset of desertification, they must consider their

part in aggravating this affair.

Desertification causes changes to the climate through droughts and climate changes cause

desertification. This vicious cycle will continue until the urgency of this affair is diagnosed and

accepted as critical. Today, desertification is still a prevalent sustainability complication that is

not popularly acknowledged. With education, more people will be able to not only be able to

identify environmental issues, but deliberate solutions to such quandary. Education raises

awareness and a vital respect for the environment. Nwankwoala discusses the possible dangers

if the study of environment is neglected in our curriculum [because] it implies that students are

taught to be apart from the natural world they live in, and this is a lie (231). One way to inform

humans on environmental issues, such as desertification, is to start education at an early age.

Current generation's lack the basic knowledge on the impact one's actions have on the planet and

this has been proven to be detrimental. This pattern cannot continue because tomorrows leaders

need to be equipped for tomorrows challenges and the children must adequately be prepared for

the future they will inherit (232). The future generations hold responsibility for the fate of the

earth. One can not expect actions to be taken to end desertification if this issue is unbeknownst to

those liable to end it. The widespread of education governs actions that can be made to preserve

the land in a felicitous way. A policy must be made to ensure that globally all youth is granted

the proper wisdom to boost awareness of desertification. Education on the environment must be

introduced into all classrooms so one can realize their connection to the earth. Such a connection

comes from the balance of the earth providing for its inhabitants and humans ensuring that this

planet can continue to do so. By creating deserts crucial resources are demolished which provs to
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be detrimental to all life forms since all life relies on the maintenance of the environment it

inhabits. Through industrialization, humans have caused an increase in desertification and must

be held accountable to take the measures needed to preserve their environment. Environmental

education helps sustain earths natural resources while improving critical thinking and key life

skills. These skills are pertinent to obtain to increase the value one views the earth to hold. The

favorable truth is that humans are capable of diffusing the widespread of desertification and

education is the key to instilling the urgency of this situation to the youth.

Don Marquiss piece what the ants are saying does prove to be effective in conveying

the power humans hold over the preservation or downfall of the earth. His claim that insects will

one day rule the world when humans have covered the land in deserts is a misstatement. Instead

humans will lose all ascendancy on earth and the insects, along with all lifeforms, will vanish as

proven by Schowalter. Nwankwoala contradicts MArquiss assertion that humans do not hold the

sole responsibility for desertification, but that natural processes are also contributing factors.

Desertification will always be a complication that humans will have to face due to the natural

factors that can cause it. These are unavoidable and will take their toll on the land despite all

preventive efforts. While some claims are exaggerated Marquiss poem should not be ignored

because it does shed light on the importance of conservation in order to avoid further

desertification. All humans have a responsibility to earth and must do their part to aid in the

longevity of the future. Luckily with extensive education and action towards conservation the

risk desertification can decline.

One should not shy away from their duty to abate desertification, but rather feel

empowered to inflict change. The accountability one holds to earth can be empowering by

knowing that this planet relies so heavily on its treatment by humans and humans rely
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completely on what the earth has to offer. This connection should be embraced and the

commitments to one another fulfilled as one lives each day. Power is what humans hold. Each

and every one has the potential to thrive among one another and to ensure that our planet does so

as well. So humans, please take care of your home and embrace all that this planet has to offer:

the earth depends on it.

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Works Cited

Marquis, Don. what the ants are saying. American Earth: Environmental Writing Since

Thoreau, McKibben, Bill, Literary Classics, 2008, pp 235-238.

Nwankoala, Dr., PhD. Causes of Climate and Environmental Changes: The need for

Environmental-Friendly Education Policy in Nigeria, Vol. 6, 2015, pp 224-34. Web.

Schowalter, Timothy Duane. Insect ecology: an ecosystem approach. 4th ed., Elsevier

Academic Press, 2016. Schowalter, Timothy Duane. Insect ecology: an ecosystem approach. 4th

ed., Elsevier Academic Press, 2016. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=tne0CwA

AQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Insect+ecology:+an+ecosystem+approach&ots=UbnJ87HeVm&

sig=JYgzEfowP7zN0JveZsKdaUygHF4#v=onepage&q=Insect%20ecology%3A%20an%20ecos

ystem%20approach&f=false

Sustainable development of drylands and combating desertification. N.p., n.d. Web. 09

Oct. 2017. http://www.fao.org/docrep/v0265e/v0265e00.htm.