The article describes how the Sahel’s extreme droughts from 1970 to 1995 permanently changed soil and hydrological processes, resulting in a cycle of increasing runoff that continues even after rainfall has returned. These long-term terrain changes are causing more frequent and severe flooding when combined with increased rainfall brought on by climate change. In order to lower flood risks and increase resilience throughout the region, the essay emphasizes the necessity of ecosystem restoration, better water management, and climate adaption.
The Sahel: How Past Droughts Are Fueling Today’s Floods | IRD le Mag’