After Decades of Drought, Water Is Rising in the African Sahel
Warming has brought extreme rain to the parched Sahel, which is seeing aquifers refill as monsoons grow stronger. But heavier downpours alone cannot explain the groundwater revival, say hydrologists, who believe efforts to harvest rainfall may also be paying dividends. Read more on E360 →
After decades of drought, water levels in the African Sahel are rising, transforming the region once known for famine and drought. Farmers are now able to cultivate fields that had been devoid of water for generations, with irrigation reaching areas untouched for decades. The rise in water levels is attributed to both natural rainfall patterns and human interventions.
The Sahel region, spanning across North Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, is a transition zone between the Sahara Desert and savanna grasslands. The return of more consistent rainfall is crucial for human survival, but its unpredictability has led to significant challenges in the past. Since the late 20th century, the region experienced severe droughts that caused up to a million deaths due to hunger and disease.
However, as monsoon rains grow stronger, the Sahel is on the verge of a new humid era. This change is evident in the resurgence of wildlife, with populations of aardvarks, porcupines, badgers, and foxes rebounding in nature reserves. Additionally, the restoration of trees on formerly barren lands has further contributed to the revitalization of the ecosystem.
Farmers in countries like Chad, Niger, and Cameroon are benefiting from new irrigation systems that tap into groundwater reserves, leading to increased crop yields and improved livelihoods. The trend of increasing rainfall and water availability in the Sahel is expected to continue, offering hope for a more stable and prosperous future in this semi-arid region.
Written by urgent.news from Yale Environment 360's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
