An African World Vanishes As Lake Chad Retreats, Dries - FT

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Once a giant sea, Lake Chad has fluctuated over the centuries. It is thought to have disappeared and reappeared several times during its history. But experts at the Lake Chad Basin Commission, a body representing the four surrounding countries and the Central African Republic, believe what is happening today cannot be compared with other variations recorded since the 19th century. "We feel it's different," says Lambert Tam, assistant head, in the Chad capital N'Djamena. He puts the lake's current area at 2,500-3,500 sq km, compared with 25,000 sq km in the last peak year of 1963.

But even the measurements are uncertain. A Nasa-supported project five years ago found the open part of the lake reduced to 1,350 sq km. However experts in the US and at the UN Environment Programme (Unep) in Nairobi say Nasa has not provided more recent satellite data. A Nigerian satellite picture from 2003 suggests just 900 sq km. On the other hand, water levels have varied in the past few years, showing some signs of recovery.

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The 300 or so islands, with their abundant bird life and settlements of lake people, who raise a unique breed of bulbous-horned cattle, would be an obvious tourist attraction - if there were there any facilities for tourists. But there are none. The lake is within two hours' drive of N'Djamena, but access is not simple. For one thing, there are exactions to be paid; official travel permits carry little weight with the local gendarmerie. For another, the road ends well short of the lake.

Lake Chad's receding shoreline has altered local ways. Islands that used to be under ater for most of the year have become permanent. A bustling frontier market has become established on one island. Fishermen from Nigeria and other parts of west Africa have moved into Chad territory. Farmers grow cereals and beans on fertile polders where the lake water has moved back. But land further from the lake has become unusable. Former islands and streams have turned to dunes. Many fish species have vanished.

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http://news.ft.com/cms/s/92f4eb84-9523-11da-b2f7-0000779e2340.html