Desert Encroachment Threatens Chinguetti’s Cultural Heritage

Chinguetti, Mauritania, is under threat from increasing desertification and climate change, which is overwhelming the historic city and endangering its cultural heritage. As sand encroaches on homes and streets, local residents grapple with the loss of their community. Efforts to combat this crisis through reforestation have been largely insufficient, but there is still hope among the community to resist the desert’s advance.

Chinguetti, Mauritania, a historic trans-Saharan trading hub, faces an existential threat due to desert encroachment. Once a vibrant center for scholars and poets, the city now suffers as shifting sands threaten its 8th-century core and surrounding neighborhoods. Local residents have resigned themselves to the belief that the desert is their inevitable fate.

As climate change intensifies, increased sandstorms have overwhelmed Chinguetti, burying homes and streets under rising dunes. While tree-planting initiatives aim to combat this encroachment, residents perceive little relief from their deep-seated anxieties about the future. Chinguetti is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, yet only 0.5 percent of Mauritania is suitable for farming, placing the community at high risk.

Chinguetti holds significant religious importance in Islam, with its ancient structures safeguarding some of West Africa’s oldest manuscripts and texts. Community leader Melainine Med El Wely articulates the emotional toll of witnessing this gradual disaster. He compares it to a slow-motion calamity, expressing sorrow over the rapidly advancing dunes that erase memories of once-inhabited spaces.

Research indicates that desertification is accelerating, contributing to widespread climate impacts in Africa, where Mauritania ranks among the hardest hit. As the planet warms, aridity is becoming more prevalent, posing substantial risks to agriculture and overall survival. The United Nations has identified human-induced climate change as a primary factor behind these shifts, highlighting its role in exacerbating water scarcity and forcing migration.

In Chinguetti, the consequences of a transforming climate are evident. Agricultural practices are faltering, with date farmers like Salima Ould Salem struggling to provide water for their crops. Once-thriving neighborhoods have seen families depart, with sand now blocking entrances and engulfing homes.

Historically protective vegetation, such as acacia and gum trees, has diminished, exacerbating the advancing dunes. Residents are forced to use traditional methods to remove sand, further highlighting the inadequacy of existing interventions. Mohamed Lemine Bahane, a retired teacher, underscores the critical need for re-establishing vegetation to stabilize the sand, advocating for increased tree planting to safeguard Chinguetti.

Despite minimal progress in reforestation efforts, local leaders are hopeful. They propose comprehensive initiatives in cooperation with both Mauritania’s environmental agencies and international NGOs. However, the challenges posed by desertification require urgent and sustained action to protect Chinguetti’s cultural heritage and livelihoods.

Ultimately, the fate of Chinguetti hangs in the balance as the desert advances. Despite the alarming encroachment, residents hold onto some optimism, believing that with concerted efforts, resistance to desertification remains a possibility. The community’s identity, rich history, and the legacy of knowledge contained within its libraries inspire a collective commitment to fight against this climatic menace.

Chinguetti, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Mauritania, faces dire challenges due to desertification. Climate change is accelerating sand encroachment on the city, threatening its historical and cultural significance. Local residents, while resigned to their plight, continue to advocate for tree-planting initiatives and reforestation to mitigate the advancing desert. Their collective efforts highlight the importance of preserving their heritage and combating the environmental crisis they face.

Original Source: www.arabnews.com