Inventory and Monitoring of Sahelian Pastoral Ecosystems Annex 7: Woody Vegetation in the Sahel - GEMS Sahel Series No. 7

This document is a supplement to the main report on the Inventory and Monitoring of Sahelian Pastoral Ecosystems. As the seventh installment in the GEMS Sahel Series, this annex provides a comprehensive review of the status and trends of woody plant cover in the Sahel. It uses the region's climatic history to contextualize recent droughts and examines the ecological changes to woody vegetation caused by both human activities and climatic shifts. The document discusses potential methods for rehabilitating the Sahel's woodlands, emphasizing the critical need to involve rural populations in decision-making and to implement appropriate legislative changes. To support its findings, the annex presents data from case studies in the Ferlo region of northern Senegal, offering recommendations for future research and action aimed at reversing the severe deforestation currently afflicting this vast and vital ecosystem..