Plaquette : Making the Senegal river navigable - IAGF 6ème session

<>: ~,'~, ~//-- -4 2~~t----.- •.•••.•... =1_- . .~_ ___--- Climate change: the increased vulnerability of coastal habitats and populations ln the 19705, West Africa was severely hit by the effects of climate change. Water is a major indicator of these effects, with rainfall fluctuating dramatically between periods of droughts and floods, and rising sea levels. Indeed, along with Asia this region is the most vulnerable ta rising ocean levels, due ta the low altitude of large plains along the coast. The sea level was constant during the 19505 though has risen rapidly since (from 1.7 mm/year from the 19505 ta about 3.5 mm/year since 2000 while a rise of 1 m is forecast for 2100) . Saint-Louis, a town at the mouth of the river and on the zone of transition between Saharan and Sahel c/imates, is severely impacted by the consequences of climate change. MANSOUR FAYE, MINISTER OF HYDRAULICS AND MAYOR OF SAINT-LOUIS Ifs constantly threaten farming, the need for water for bath the population and the environment, and the region's capacity ta be " 5enegal's granary" . Luc Descroix, a hydrologist at the Institute of Research and Development (IRD) and Deputy Director of the Joint International Laboratory of Heritage and Water at Dakar, presented three major impacts of rising ocean levels. GGR VA 0 OF CO STAL .. ROS ON Coastal erosion is occurring everywhere around the world and is especially apparent in West Africa, where it threatens fishing villages and tourist facilities in Casamance. At the end of the 20005, two villages located in Guandiol, Doun Baba Dieye and Keur Bernard, were washed away by coastal erosion. inland in Casamance, villages located at zero altitude are particularly hard hit during spring tides. 8