ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

As village communities expand, the surrounding land has to be farmed more intensively to grow crops. This leaves less land for animals to graze. A shepherd describes the effects of soil degradation and erosion around his village. As soil is overworked it loses its ability to hold moisture and is eroded. When rains do come, the topsoil can be washed away leaving hard, unfertile ground.