Vegetation Dynamics. Natural versus Cultural and the Regeneration Potential. The Example of Sahara-Sahel

Research on the Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves reveals that the Sahara-Sahel region exhibits stable tripartite vegetation boundaries—semidesert, desert, and Saharan savanna—despite varying plant cover states over 200 years. The study challenges the 'greening-regreening' narrative by showing that Sahelian savannas, once highly diverse and resilient, declined in biodiversity after severe droughts like the 1970s, with limited recovery despite observed regreening. Cultural and natural factors, such as traditional park systems and elephant landscapes, play significant roles in vegetation dynamics. Conservation efforts, including nature reserves and pasture rotation projects, have shown mixed success due to external pressures like conflict and demographic growth. The findings underscore the need for localized, community-driven regeneration initiatives over large-scale projects.

Schulz, E., Adamou, A., Ibrahim, S., Ousseini, I., & Herrmann, L. (2020). Vegetation Dynamics. Natural versus Cultural and the Regeneration Potential. The Example of Sahara-Sahel. Plant Communities and Their Environment. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87030