Unit 3: Sub-Saharan Africa Today’s Topic: Sahel & Desertification In your notes . . . Unit 3: Sub-Saharan Africa Today’s Topic: Sahel & Desertification

Desertification

is the process by which land becomes desert Desertification: is the process by which land becomes desert

The Sahel has been heavily affected by the process of desertification The Sahel has been heavily affected by the process of desertification. ---This means that the land is turning to desert. Desertification happens because of both physical and human factors. ---The term land degradation tends to be linked to the human factors, with desertification being linked to climate change.

Desertification Definition: the process by which land becomes desert. Sahel is under stress from overuse of land (farming, grazing) and climate variability. Vegetation and animals cannot survive. Ultimately, there will be no resources here for people.

What is the Sahel?

The Sahel Sahel means “shore” in Arabic. Lies between the desert and fertile grassland to the south. Long, dry seasons & wet seasons. Drought has brought famine, misery, & hardship. “Desertification” happening in the Sahel. Sahara taking over. Looking north Looking south

Sahel -Steppe region below Sahara that is spreading into a desert region.

The Sahel has long periods without rain called droughts. This photo shows people of the Sahel region that have to travel long distances in search of food and water.

The Sahel

You Tube Film Clip on Sahel • Explaining the Sahel drought problem Al Jazeera English Published on Jun 19, 2012 Running time of 9:51 minutes • Millions of people in the Sahel region are facing severe food shortages because of drought. The Sahel is a dry stretch of land south of the Sahara that stretches across 12 countries. Several of them have declared food emergencies, including Mauritania, Niger, Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso. Al Jazeera reports in-depth on the current situation across the Sahel.

Cultural Characteristics of the Sahel

Demographics of the Sahel The Sahel also serves as a cultural transition zone. Majority: black Muslims North: mostly Arab Muslims Central: mixture of Arab and black Muslims South: mostly Christian/Animist black Africans

Cultural Transition of the Sahel Light Skinned Muslims Black-skinned Christians, Animists

Cultural Transition of the Sahel North of Sahel – Light-skinned Muslims

South of Sahel Black Africans Christian or animist

Effects of Sahel

Due to Desertification of Sahel Conflicts & war Darfur, Sudan Started off as Muslims vs. Christians and Animism Combined with the desertification, droughts, & over population Fight for the land

Many of these ethnic groups were enemies and could not get along Many of these ethnic groups were enemies and could not get along. Today fighting among ethnic groups is still a problem. "We are fighting every day because we are Hutu and they are Tutsis. We cannot mix, we are always in conflict," the tribesman said. "We will stay enemies forever." (left, Hutu soldiers in Rwanda)