Chinguetti, Mauritania, faces an encroaching desert threatening its historical heritage and community. The city, home to significant Islamic manuscripts, grapples with climate change effects such as severe sandstorms and drying wells. Despite efforts to plant trees and combat desertification, the future remains uncertain, emphasizing the need for community resilience and adaptive strategies to preserve their cultural legacy.
Chinguetti, Mauritania, has served as a historic hub for poets, scholars, and theologians, housing over a dozen libraries filled with ancient manuscripts. However, this UNESCO World Heritage site faces an alarming threat as advancing desert sands cover significant portions of its 8th-century core and intrude into neighborhoods. Residents have resigned themselves to the belief that the desert’s encroachment is inevitable.
As global temperatures rise and climate conditions worsen, frequent sandstorms exacerbate the issue by depositing substantial dunes onto the streets and into homes, submerging entire neighborhoods. Although tree-planting initiatives aim to combat this invasion, concerns for the community’s future remain deeply rooted.
Chinguetti is particularly consequential as it is considered one of the holiest cities in Islam. Its architecture, comprised of dry stone and mud mortar, houses some of the oldest Quranic texts and diverse historical manuscripts. Melainine Med El Wely, a community leader, expressed his sorrow over the unfortunate fate awaiting Chinguetti, describing the situation as akin to a slow-motion disaster, where memories of the past are obscured by advancing sands.
Research indicates that the increase in desertification, particularly in regions such as the Sahara, is driven by shifting sand patterns and climate change. Andreas Baas, an earth scientist, noted that what was once deemed a worst-case scenario has now become a plausible reality.
A UN report highlighted that over three-quarters of the Earth’s land has experienced drying trends over recent decades, jeopardizing the survival of plants and animals alike. The report attributed these alarming changes to human-induced climate change, which fosters land aridity and subsequent water scarcity.
In Chinguetti, the manifestations of climate change are palpable, with wells drying up, tree health declining, and livelihoods disappearing. Date farmer Salima Ould Salem faced mounting difficulties in adequately nurturing his palm trees, with encroaching sands blocking access to homes and reducing the community’s size further. Yet, despite losing neighbors, he chooses to remain in hopes of preserving their collective heritage.
The natural barriers provided by acacia, gum, and palm trees against the encroaching desert have diminished, primarily due to drought or unsustainable harvesting practices. Enhanced frequency of sandstorms poses significant challenges to daily life, compelling residents to undertake manual labor to clear their surroundings. Mohamed Lemine Bahane, a retired teacher, emphasized the vital role of vegetation in stabilizing sand dunes and underscored the dire need for community action.
Bahane’s research indicates a significant decline in annual rainfall, prompting further sand migration into the city. The community’s response includes initiatives to plant trees to form protective “green belts” around their hometown. Local and governmental organizations are calling for tree planting efforts, yet tangible progress remains elusive, as it takes time for new trees’ roots to reach groundwater.
Despite the daunting circumstances, El Wely remains hopeful, asserting that although desertification seems inevitable, there are still individuals who believe in the possibility of resistance against the desert’s advance, demonstrating resilience in the face of climate challenges.
The encroaching desert poses an existential threat to Chinguetti, Mauritania, as increasing temperatures and severe sandstorms jeopardize the community’s rich history and daily existence. Local leaders and researchers acknowledge the urgency of implementing tree-planting initiatives while actively discussing strategies to combat desertification. With a commitment to resilience and collaboration, there persists hope that Chinguetti can withstand and resist the desert’s advance amidst ongoing climate challenges.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
