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Climate Change in West Africa

A man baths in the Casamance River. Drought caused by climate change has transformed the ecosystem into an inversed estuary, of which few exist in the world. When there are abundant rains, fresh water flushes the salt out of the waterways, but with the prolonged drought, inland salt levels have become more concentrated than at the mouth of the rivers where they reach the sea. The increased salinization of the ecosystem has degraded large swaths of West African mangrove forests with devastating consequences on fish stocks, wildlife and the livelihoods of local inhabitants. Bambaly, Senegal. 12/11/2014.

Filename
WestAfricaClimateChange_040.jpg
Copyright
Photo © J.B. Russell
Image Size
7253x4841 / 13.3MB
Contained in galleries
REPORTAGE: Climate Change and Biodiversity in West Africa
A man baths in the Casamance River. Drought caused by climate change has transformed the ecosystem into an inversed estuary, of which few exist in the world. When there are abundant rains, fresh water flushes the salt out of the waterways, but with the prolonged drought, inland salt levels have become more concentrated than at the mouth of the rivers where they reach the sea. The increased salinization of the ecosystem has degraded large swaths of West African mangrove forests with devastating consequences on fish stocks, wildlife and the livelihoods of local inhabitants. Bambaly, Senegal. 12/11/2014.