Baobabs warn of climate emergency in Mali

If during these days the world media have focused their attention on the city of Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), where the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27) is held, between 1984 and 1985 they gave to make known to the world the existence of the so-called “hunger belt”.

At that time, an intense drought hit the Sahel, the vast region that crosses Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.

The thermal stress and the sandy soils of this immense area of ​​more than four million square kilometers caused its inhabitants, the majority of whom live in rural areas, to suffer an unprecedented food crisis,

Almost 40 years later, it is paradoxical not only that COP27 takes place on the African continent, precisely one of the hardest hit by the consequences of the climate crisis, but also that the urgency of curbing the increase in temperatures and the soil degradation as already highlighted in the eighties.

The excessive promotion of irrigated agriculture and continuous grazing have caused a systematic overexploitation of the land

The recurrent effects derived from the climatic emergency —intense droughts, unprecedented heat waves or loss of biodiversity— have meant that today the peoples that make up the Sahel are impassively witnessing the prelude to a new food crisis.

This time, as a consequence, among other reasons, of the war in Ukraine and the rise in the price of cereals, and particularly aggravated in this region of sub-Saharan Africa by the implementation of unfortunate environmental policies and the excessive increase in agriculture pastoralism.

The excessive promotion of irrigated agriculture and continuous grazing have caused a systematic overexploitation of the land, well above its real capacity to provide water and pasture, in an area that is particularly sensitive to climate change.

In addition, the short-term vision of governments and rural communities, who sought to maximize their economic returns in the shortest possible time, has led to serious soil degradation.

The Kayes region, on the border with Senegal, stands out for its extreme weather, where there are oscillating rainfall periods in which periods of abundant rainfall alternate with others of relative scarcity.

Currently, the drought has a major impact on this region and its inhabitants have begun to feel first-hand the devastating effects of galloping desertification and deforestation, with the baobabs (

) being the first tree species to give a clear voice of alarm.

Popularly known as the monkey bread tree or pharmacy tree and immortalized by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in his work

(1943), these trees have a unique appearance due, according to some African legends, to the fact that the gods were forced to give them the return to punish them for their terrible vanity, they can live in suitable climatic conditions between 800 and 1,000 years.

Traditionally, for centuries, they have been used as meeting places and around them important decisions are made on problems that concern the community.

Baobabs contribute greatly to the food security of families

The baobabs contribute greatly to the food security of families, not only because of the use of the oil extracted from their seeds and the pulp of the fruit in their usual diet, but also because of their fundamental role in the sustainability of agricultural systems. .

Although, the current problem is that due to the progressive loss of biodiversity in the entire region, this species is disappearing by leaps and bounds.

If in 2010, according to data from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD for its acronym in English) there were around 15,000 hectares in Mali, currently more than a third has disappeared or is at extreme risk of disappearance. .

On the other hand, the destruction of this fragile ecosystem is causing uncontrolled migratory movements towards the most fertile areas of the south.

Once again, it is confirmed that farmers and shepherds continue to promote bad practices that generate, in addition to numerous agro-environmental problems around the transformation and significant degradation of the landscape.

It occurs especially during episodes of drought, a multidimensional crisis that poses serious limitations to their fundamental rights, such as access to food, health or water, for the most vulnerable population —mainly women, boys and girls, and the displaced population. .

At a historic moment in which we are witnessing an acute energy and food crisis, aggravated by the cost of living, conflicts and geopolitical tensions, COP27 is expected to provide a roadmap that promotes the application of the Paris Agreement, which serve to consolidate the progress made on climate change.

It is essential to stop the terrible consequences of desertification and deforestation suffered by the most vulnerable countries, such as Mali, which is why developed countries must commit themselves urgently to this global fight.

Antonio Lorenzo Castellanos

is a specialist in Cooperation for Development with sub-Saharan Africa, and in Human Rights and Sustainable Development from the University of Jaén (UJA).

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