Chinguetti, a historical city in Mauritania, is threatened by advancing desertification, impacting its homes and unique cultural heritage. Climate change has intensified sandstorms, burying parts of the city, and prompting concern among residents about their future. Despite reforestation efforts, the situation remains critical. Community leaders highlight the urgent need for sustainable solutions to combat desert encroachment and its socio-cultural ramifications.
Chinguetti, a historic city in Mauritania, is under severe threat from encroaching deserts. Recognized as one of Africa’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, it has long attracted scholars and poets due to its libraries housing ancient manuscripts. However, increasing climate change impacts lead to more frequent sandstorms, which now bury parts of the city, including homes and vital manuscripts, in a relentless advance of shifting sands.
As global temperatures rise, Chinguetti faces escalating challenges with its local climate. Sandstorms are depositing significant amounts of sand onto streets and into residences, causing deep concern among the residents. Despite efforts to combat this advance through tree-planting initiatives, the community remains fearful of the consequences of climate change for their future existence and cultural heritage.
The arid environment in Mauritania, with only 0.5 percent of land suitable for farming, exacerbates the crisis. The World Bank reports that Mauritania has experienced severe climate impacts, ranking just behind Somalia and Eswatini on the continent. In addition to environmental decline, Chinguetti is a crucial site for preserving Islam’s literary history, with buildings that house some of the oldest texts in West Africa.
Community leader Melainine Med El Wely expressed the emotional strain felt by residents witnessing the slow destruction of Chinguetti. “It’s a city surrounded by an ocean of sand that’s advancing every minute,” he stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Formerly vibrant neighborhoods are now losing their residents to desertification, which threatens their cultural and historical identity.
Research indicates that desertification is being accelerated by a combination of changing weather patterns and the destructive effects of human activity. An earth scientist, Andreas Baas, highlighted the dramatic changes occurring over the last decade, with deserts expanding and rendering once-fertile areas into wasteland. As plants and water resources dwindle, the survival of both human populations and local ecosystems hangs in the balance.
The situation is grave for local farmers like Salima Ould Salem, who now face difficulties in sustaining their date palm crops. With increasing desert encroachment, many families have departed, leaving behind homes that are gradually consumed by sand. “We prefer to stay here. If I leave, my place will disappear,” said Salem, revealing the complex emotional toll of climate change.
As vegetation diminishes, residents observe the increasing volatility of the sand dunes. Retired teacher Mohamed Lemine Bahane noted that conditions have worsened as the lack of vegetation allows dunes to become more active. Utilizing mules and carts for sand removal, residents face hardships in maintaining their living conditions while struggling against sandstorms.
Bhane’s measurements show significantly reduced rainfall over the past decade, leading to a diminishing ecosystem in Chinguetti. The removal of trees further compounds the issue, exacerbating the conditions for sand migration and creating public health concerns. He suggests that the community needs to plant more trees to combat this desert invasion effectively.
Various efforts are underway to establish green belts through reforestation projects promoted by the relevant government ministries and NGOs. While some trees have been replanted, the overall impact remains limited, as trees require time to grow deep enough to access groundwater. Community leader Melainine Med El Wely lamented, “We’re convinced that desertification is our destiny. But thankfully, there are still people convinced that it can be resisted.”
Chinguetti, a UNESCO World Heritage site, faces existential threats from shifting sands fueled by climate change, endangering its historical significance and the lives of its residents. As desertification progresses, local leaders and farmers struggle to balance preservation of their culture and community with the harsh realities of their changing environment. Despite efforts to combat the advance of the desert through tree planting, significant challenges remain, underscoring the urgency to address climate impacts proactively.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
