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Pastoralism may have delayed the end of the green Sahara

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Listed:
  • Chris Brierley

    (University College London)

  • Katie Manning

    (University College London
    Kings College London)

  • Mark Maslin

    (University College London)

Abstract

The climate deterioration after the most recent African humid period (AHP) is a notable past example of desertification. Evidence points to a human population expansion in northern Africa prior to this, associated with the introduction of pastoralism. Here we consider the role, if any, of this population on the subsequent ecological collapse. Using a climate-vegetation model, we estimate the natural length of the most recent AHP. The model indicates that the system was most susceptible to collapse between 7 and 6 ka; at least 500 years before the observed collapse. This suggests that the inclusion of increasing elements of pastoralism was an effective adaptation to the regional environmental changes. Pastoralism also appears to have slowed the deterioration caused by orbitally-driven climate change. This supports the view that modern pastoralism is not only sustainable, but beneficial for the management of the world’s dryland environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Brierley & Katie Manning & Mark Maslin, 2018. "Pastoralism may have delayed the end of the green Sahara," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-06321-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06321-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Xunming Wang & Quansheng Ge & Xin Geng & Zhaosheng Wang & Lei Gao & Brett A. Bryan & Shengqian Chen & Yanan Su & Diwen Cai & Jiansheng Ye & Jimin Sun & Huayu Lu & Huizheng Che & Hong Cheng & Hongyan L, 2023. "Unintended consequences of combating desertification in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Behnke, Roy & Young, Helen & Sulieman, Hussein M. & Robinson, Sarah & Idris, Ammar E., 2020. "The seasonal imperative: Environmental drivers of livestock mobility in East Darfur, Sudan," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).

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