CHINGUETTI, Mauritania (AP) — Chinguetti, a historical trans-Saharan trading post known for its libraries housing ancient manuscripts, is now facing a critical situation. The city, dating back to the 8th century, is on the verge of being engulfed by shifting sands that have already covered its core and are encroaching on its neighborhoods. Local residents feel resigned to the desert’s relentless advance, as sandstorms deposit layers of sand onto the city streets and homes, causing worry for the future.
As global temperatures rise and dry conditions increase, Chinguetti is experiencing more frequent sandstorms, leading to the burial of homes and streets under dunes. Efforts such as tree-planting projects aim to combat the encroaching sands, but concerns about the city’s fate persist. Chinguetti is one of Mauritania’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, in a country where only a small fraction of land is suitable for farming. Despite contributing minimally to fossil fuel emissions, the nation faces significant climate change impacts, with Chinguetti bearing the brunt.
Considered one of Islam’s holiest cities, Chinguetti holds a rich history within its dry stone structures and libraries, housing precious texts on various subjects. Community leader Melainine Med El Wely expresses deep concern for both the city’s residents and the historical treasures at risk. He likens the situation to witnessing a slow-motion natural disaster, with sand slowly engulfing the city.
Sand migration plays a key role in desertification, with deserts expanding rapidly and landscapes transforming due to blowing dunes. Climate scientist Andreas Baas notes the evolving challenges, as once-distant worst-case scenarios become more realistic. A United Nations report highlights the increasing aridity of the earth’s land, leading to challenges in sustaining life for plants, animals, and humans. Human-induced climate change exacerbates water scarcity, causing illness, death, and mass displacements globally.
While policymakers focus on fertile regions turning into wastelands, Chinguetti exemplifies the tangible consequences of a changing climate. Declining vegetation, drying wells, and encroaching sands paint a bleak picture for the city’s future unless urgent action is taken.
Livelihoods are disappearing in Chinguetti. Salima Ould Salem, a 50-year-old date farmer, struggles to maintain his palm trees as water sources dwindle. His once-thriving neighborhood has emptied out, buried under sand dunes that encroach on his home. The familiar trees that once shielded the community have been lost to thirst or human need for firewood.
Sandstorms have become more frequent, leaving residents to clear the streets using mules and carts. The encroaching desert poses a threat to the community’s survival, with vegetation disappearing and sand piling up against structures. Mohamed Lemine Bahane, a retired teacher, measures the sand deposits and rainfall, noting the increasing aridity that accelerates desertification.
To combat the encroaching desert, Bahane advocates for planting more trees to create green belts around the town. Initiatives like Africa’s “Great Green Wall” and local projects aim to restore the ecosystem and protect against sand infiltration. Despite efforts to replant trees, the battle against desertification remains challenging, requiring time for new roots to establish and access groundwater.
Community leader El Wely acknowledges the grim reality of desertification but remains hopeful in the resistance efforts. While the fate of Chinguetti hangs in the balance, there are those who believe in the power of tree planting to push back against the advancing desert.
Certainly! Please provide the text that you would like me to rewrite.
