The Sahel

Summary:
1- Introduction
2- The Sahel environment
3- Definition of the Great Green Wall
By Mbackeh Ka (6èmeB)
 INTRODUCTION:
The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic realm of
transition in Africa between the Sahara to the north and
the Sudanian savanna to the south. Having a semi-arid
climate, it stretches across the south-central latitudes of
Northern Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red
Sea. The name is derived from the Arabic term for "coast,
shore"; this is explained as being used in a figurative
sense (in reference to the southern edge of the vast
Sahara). However, such figurative use is unattested in
Classical Arabic, and it has been suggested that the word
may originally have been derived from the Arabic word
sahl ‫”سهل‬plain” instead.

The Sahel part of Africa includes from west to east parts

of northern Senegal, southern Mauritania, central Mali,
northern Burkina Faso, the extreme south
of Algeria, Niger, the extreme north of Nigeria, the
extreme north of Cameroon and Central African Republic,
central Chad, central and southern Sudan, the extreme
north of South Sudan, Eritrea, and the extreme north
of Ethiopia.

Historically, the western part of the Sahel was sometimes

known as the Sudan region. This belt was roughly located
between the Sahara and the coastal areas of West Africa.
THE SAHEL ENVIRONMENT:

The Sahel has a tropical semi-arid climate (Köppen

climate classification BSh). The climate is typically
hot, sunny, dry and somewhat windy all year long.
The Sahel's climate is similar to, but less extreme
than, the climate of the Sahara desert located just
to the north.

The Sahel is particularly vulnerable to rainfall

variability, land degradation, and desertification
due to its high dependence on rain-fed agriculture
and livestock, according to a study by the UN
Environment Program. Climate change is
introducing even more unpredictability in water
and food availability.

In the Sahel, droughts are becoming more and

more intense. Temperatures are rising 1.5 times
faster than in the rest of the world. But climate
change is also causing heavy rains (violent
thunderstorms, above-normal rainfall).
DEFINITION OF THE
GREAT GREEN WALL:
The Great Green Wall is an African-led movement with
an epic ambition to grow an 8,000km natural wonder of
the world across the entire width of Africa. A decade in
and roughly 15% underway, the initiative is already
bringing life back to Africa’s degraded landscapes at an
unprecedented scale, providing food security, jobs and a
reason to stay for the millions who live along its path.
The Wall promises to be a compelling solution to the
many urgent threats not only facing the African
Continent, but the global community as a whole – notably
climate change, drought, famine, conflict and migration.
Once complete, the Great Green Wall will be the largest
living structure on the planet, 3 times the size of the Great
Barrier Reef.
The Great Green Wall is taking root in Africa's Sahel
region, at the southern edge of the Sahara desert - one of
the poorest places on the planet. More than anywhere else
on Earth, the Sahel is on the frontline of climate change
and millions of locals are already facing its devastating
impact. Persistent droughts, lack of food, conflicts over
dwindling natural resources, and mass migration to
Europe are just some of the many consequences.
 CONCLUSION:

The Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the

Sahel, commonly known as the Great Green
Wall, is the African Union's flagship initiative
to combat the effects of climate change and
desertification in Africa.
 Sources:

https://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahel

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https://
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