Chinguetti Faces Existential Threat from Encroaching Desert
Chinguetti, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Mauritania, is threatened by advancing desertification due to climate change. Increasing sandstorms obscure streets and homes, jeopardizing the city’s historical legacy. Despite local tree-planting initiatives, community leaders express deep concerns over the impending future as residents struggle to maintain their livelihoods amidst the encroaching sands.
Chinguetti, in Mauritania, historically served as a key trans-Saharan trading post, renowned for its numerous libraries housing invaluable manuscripts. Unfortunately, this ancient city is rapidly deteriorating due to the encroaching desert. The climate crisis is exacerbating the situation, as increased sandstorms furnish additional dunes that engulf streets and homes. Despite tree-planting initiatives, concerns for the future remain prevalent among the inhabitants。
As one of Mauritania’s four UNESCO World Heritage sites, Chinguetti’s cultural and historical significance is deeply intertwined with Islam. Its architecture and literature include some of West Africa’s oldest Quranic texts and manuscripts. Melainine Med El Wely, a community leader, laments the advancing sands stating, “It’s a city surrounded by an ocean of sand that’s advancing every minute.”
The phenomenon of desertification is becoming more severe, especially as the Sahara Desert expands at unprecedented rates. Researchers like Andreas Baas indicate that the anticipated worst-case scenarios regarding desertification are fast becoming realities. An alarming report from the United Nations notes that more than three-quarters of earth’s land has become drier, endangering all life forms and triggering large-scale forced migration due to water scarcity linked to climate change.
In Chinguetti, diminishing water supplies and declining agricultural productivity threaten the livelihoods of local inhabitants. Farmers, such as 50-year-old Salima Ould Salem, struggle to maintain their date palms as the desert creeps closer, with memories of previous neighbors now buried beneath sand. Salem poignantly expresses his desire to remain, asserting, “If I leave, my place will disappear.”
Historically supportive vegetation, including acacia and palm trees, have largely perished, stripping the community of a natural defense against sand encroachment. Retired educator Mohamed Lemine Bahane notes an increase in sandstorms, emphasizing the challenge of navigating narrow city streets when clearing away sand without heavy machinery. He advocates for tree planting to create green barriers against the advancing desert, a strategy proposed on both local and continent-wide levels through initiatives like Africa’s “Great Green Wall.”
Despite these intentions, tree planting efforts have yet to achieve significant success, as developing deep taproots for groundwater access requires time. El Wely optimistically remarked, “We’re convinced that desertification is our destiny. But thankfully, there are still people convinced that it can be resisted.”
Chinguetti stands at a pivotal moment; the convergence of climate change and environmental neglect threatens its history and survival. Urgent action and innovative solutions are essential to preserve this culturally rich region for future generations.
Chinguetti is on the brink of extinction as the encroaching desert continues to threaten its homes and heritage. This situation, driven by climate change and desertification, places immense strain on the local community, jeopardizing both their livelihoods and cultural legacy. Ongoing efforts such as tree planting are crucial, yet the community’s determination to resist desertification remains strong amidst the challenges they face.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
