The ancient city of Chinguetti, Mauritania, renowned for its historical manuscripts and as a center of learning, is under severe threat from climate-induced desertification. The encroaching sands, exacerbated by rising temperatures and loss of vegetation, jeopardize the livelihoods and cultural heritage of its residents. Local initiatives aim to combat this crisis, but challenges persist, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive environmental action.
Chinguetti, Mauritania, a historical hub for scholars and poets, now faces an existential threat from shifting sands. Since its establishment, the city, rich in ancient manuscripts, has had its 8th-century core overtaken by the encroaching desert, raising alarm among residents who feel increasingly resigned to their fate. With intensifying climate change, sandstorms increasingly inundate homes and streets, exacerbating fears about the future of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Located in a country where merely 0.5 percent of land is arable, Chinguetti holds significant cultural importance, housing some of West Africa’s oldest Qur’anic texts and manuscripts authored by notable Islamic scholars. Melainine Med El Wely, a local leader, described witnessing the city’s slow demise as akin to observing a natural disaster unfold, lamenting the rapid advance of desertification into what remains of their community.
Research underscores the dangerous ramifications of desertification, with deserts globally expanding at alarming rates. Andreas Baas, an earth scientist, remarked that predictions about climate impacts are converging toward severe realities sooner than anticipated, showcasing how shifting environmental conditions largely threaten sustainability in previously fertile locations.
The United Nations reported that over three-quarters of the planet’s land has grown drier in recent decades due to human-induced climate change, impairing ecosystems and human livelihoods. The escalating scarcity of water is forcing countless communities into mass migration as resources diminish to unsustainable levels, creating urgency around environmental policies and action.
In Chinguetti, residents like date farmer Salima Ould Salem struggle to maintain their livelihoods as dwindling water supplies cripple agricultural work. With neighboring homes buried, Salem expressed an aversion to leaving, fearing further community disintegration as more residents are displaced by encroaching sands. The local ecosystem suffers as vegetation disappears, leaving the area defenseless against relentless sandstorms.
To combat these challenges, it has been suggested that tree planting initiatives are vital in creating protective green belts around the city. Although efforts by Mauritania’s environmental authorities and NGOs to mitigate desert expansion have been made, the effectiveness remains limited as the required deep-rooted vegetation to reclaim groundwater is slow to develop. Community leader El Wely optimistically stated, “We are convinced that desertification is our destiny. But thankfully, there are still people convinced that it can be resisted.”
Chinguetti’s struggle against an encroaching desert highlights the dire consequences of climate change, particularly in vulnerable regions. As communities grapple with diminishing resources and increasing desertification, initiatives such as tree planting could serve as vital solutions. Preservation of both the environment and cultural heritage remains an urgent priority, emphasizing the need for concerted international efforts and local action to combat the advancing sands and secure the future of this historical city.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
