Mauritania is one of the Sahelian countries most severely affected by the repeated periods of drought that have been occurring since the end of the 1960s. Desertification control has always been a national priority and a central concern of successive governments, taking the practical form of various development plans and programmes over the past four decades. The main effect of desertification has been a reduction in the amount of arable land, grazing land, forests and water resources. Various studies show that mobile sand dunes today cover two-thirds of the country’s land area. This case study presents the techniques for sand dune fixation and also gives technical guidance on how to manage the fight the sand encroachment from the participatory approach to the institutional aspects. It also presents an experience of sand dune fixation to rehabilitate and extend the Nouakchott Green Belt.

Type of Case
Printed publication (book, sourcebook, journal article…)

Publisher
FAO

Region
Africa

Biome
Arid lands

Forest Type
Degraded forest

Primary Designated Function
All