A striking new photo essay by photographer Tommy Trenchard, titled 'Saving the Sahara’s oases', documents the accelerating disappearance of fragile oasis ecosystems in Chad. The images show sand dunes creeping towards palm groves and small fields that sustain local farmers near the town of Mao and the village of Kaou, both in the Sahel region — the semi-arid belt stretching across Africa from Mauritania to Eritrea.
Rising temperatures driven by climate change are causing vegetation to retreat around oases, leaving them exposed to encroaching sands. In response, farmers in Kaou have begun building barriers from palm fronds in an attempt to hold back the dunes. The photographs also capture solar-powered water pumps installed near Barkadroussou as part of the African Union's Great Green Wall initiative, launched in 2007 to prevent desertification of the Sahel.
Despite these efforts, the effectiveness of the Great Green Wall remains a subject of debate among experts. Critics question whether planting a belt of trees across 8,000 kilometres can reverse desertification on such a scale, especially as temperatures continue to rise. Even where local measures such as barriers or boreholes provide temporary relief, it is far from certain that these oases will survive as viable ecosystems in the long term.
The Sahel region is home to millions of people who depend on oases for date palm cultivation, small-scale agriculture, and livestock watering. As climate change intensifies, the loss of these water sources could trigger further displacement and food insecurity. The photo essay serves as a visual warning of the broader environmental pressures facing arid and semi-arid regions worldwide.
While Trenchard's work is not a scientific study, it documents on-the-ground realities that align with peer-reviewed research on desertification and climate impacts in the Sahel. The images underscore the urgent need for adaptive strategies that go beyond tree planting, such as sustainable water management and community-led land restoration. Source: Tommy Trenchard photo essay 'Saving the Sahara’s oases'.