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The Sahel is a semi-arid zone of sub-Saharan Africa, located north of the southern humid zone. The Sahel stretches eastward from the Atlantic Ocean through northern Senegal, southern Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, southern Niger, northeastern Nigeria, Chad, and Sudan. Most of the Sahel is savannah.
Image credit: Hanna Sinare
Drought-tolerant species thrive despite renewed rains in Sahel
- date:
- October 19, 2016
- source:
- Stockholm University
- Summary:
- Following devastating droughts in the 1970s and 1980s, vegetation has now recovered in the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert. To the researchers’ surprise, although vegetation is now greener with more rain, it is drought-tolerant species that are flourishing, rather than the tree and shrub vegetation that has long characterized the region. The conclusion is that not only rainfall, but also agriculture and human use of trees, shrubs and land also affect plant recovery.
The expected pattern is that drier climates favour drought-resistant species, while wetter climates allow species that require more rainfall to thrive. However, a new study shows the opposite effect; plants are shifting towards more drought-tolerant species despite more rain. This suggests that the recent greening of the Sahel can be explained by more than just more rain, which has been the main reason so far.
Read the full article: Science Daily
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