Sustainable Development Musings: Niger
In doing research for a few articles I wrote recently on sustainable and responsible travel, I decided to take a look back at the countries I have visited lately and write about what their greatest sustainability challenge is.
Today, Niger.
Niger, a country in the Sahel (the southern transitional desert of the Sahara) is one of the driest places on earth. Only 6% of the country (that is twice of the size of the state of Texas) is arable. The low southern stretch of arable land combined with the area along the river Niger must support the entire country.
Niger experiences a rainy season, a time when the rains fall so hard that it washes out the few roads the country has, and creates mud and drama everywhere. It may sound annoying, but the rain is what keeps the country going. These rains support agriculture, and provide drinking water, for the entire year of oppressive heat.
The rains have been on the decline--as much as 25% less rain falls lately. The result can be food crises like the horrible famine in 2005. Erosion and desertification follow--for a country that only has 6% arable land, losing any of it is a big problem, for water security, for food security, for transportation along the river, for wildlife.
The last thing these kids need is more desert in the Sahel! photo by me, 2007.
Next up: Brazil and biofuel.
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