The unusual rains of recent months are transforming the Sahara into a green oasis
We do not tire of repeating it: climate change is causing situations that, if someone had said it a few years ago, they would have been called crazy. One of those crazy things could have been to venture to say that in a desert vegetation can grow or lakes can form. Well, not only is it not crazy, but in recent times it is a fact in some areas of the Sahara.
A very unusual weather phenomenon in the Sahara
This change in rainfall patterns is being attributed, in part, to current global climate fluctuations, although the exact causes are still being investigated. This last event has been caused by a large lift of very humid air from the ZCIT, which crossed the Sahara and even reached Spain.
According to data compiled over the last decade, rains in the south of the Sahara have been more frequent and lasting, generating favourable conditions for the growth of drought-resistant plants. What used to be a landscape of endless sands and dunes, now in some sectors begins to show an intermittent green tapestry.
Rebirth of vegetation on hostile land
And it is that some areas are being colonised by grasses, small trees and shrubs that are transforming the landscape. These changes have not only revitalized the local ecosystem, but are also offering new opportunities for local communities, many of which depend on land for cattle grazing and subsistence agriculture.
One of the most notable effects is the greening of the Sahel, located in the southern Sahara. This strip, historically vulnerable to climate change, alternated between desertification and brief periods of agricultural productivity. With the recent rains, plant diversity has increased, allowing farmers and shepherds to expand their crops and find better pastures.
However, what on the one hand brings benefits, on the other hand poses certain challenges. The new climatic conditions can alter the ecological balance of the region, affecting the local flora and fauna. Animals that for centuries have adapted to life in conditions of extreme aridity could be displaced or face new predators and competitors attracted by the change in vegetation.
An uncertain future on which measures must be taken
In this context, it is clear that governments and organisations must take part and take action to sustainably manage emerging resources.Reforestation, water conservation and education on sustainable agricultural practices programs will be key to ensuring that this greening does not become a missed opportunity.