Farming the Desert - Geography of the Sahel

In this lesson, students are introduced to the geography and people of the Sahel region of Africa. Students learn about a farmer from Burkina Faso who halted desertification on his farmlands. Students compare and contrast information about local people are working to “regreen” the desert and take back their farmlands. Students research and develop a profile of the two groups that inhabit the Sahel: nomadic pastoralists and farmers. This lesson is part of curriculum related to the PBS series Earth A New Wild and was developed in collaboration with PBS LearningMedia.

Keywords: desertification, Sahel, nomadic pastoralist, Burkino Faso, soil fertility