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Stories from the Sahel

Through intimate portraits and environmental documentation, this project explores the human impact of environmental degradation in West Africa's Sahel region, where climate change isn't a future threat but a present reality. A collaboration with Uni Ekologic Foundation which documents various communities resilience and adaptation to changing environments in Senegal and The Gambia.

Stories from the Sahel

I vividly remember looking at satellite images of the African continent and being struck by the clear and dramatic divide between the Sahara Desert and one of the world's largest rainforest regions, separated by  what appeared to be only a thin line. I found out that this 'line' is called the Sahel region - a 200km transition zone between the arid north and the more fertile regions of the south. In late 2023, working with environmental organisation Uni Ekologic in Senegal and Gambia, I discovered how this seemingly simple geographical boundary holds countless human stories, and is an example of humanity's complex relationship with a rapidly changing environment.


In the Sahel region, climate change and environmental degradation has set off a devastating chain reaction - contributing to large-scale displacement of populations, food insecurity, armed conflicts and extremism, clashes over scarce resources, mass migration, and more, all of which are interconnected.  


I travelled through regions of Senegal and Gambia to document how environmental degredation in the Sahel directly impacts local communities I stayed with local families and heard many stories from people across all reaches of society. What emerged was a tapestry of interconnected narratives revealing how ecological collapse cascades through every aspect of life - fishermen facing empty seas due to industrial overfishing, villagers struggling to secure staple food sources, and farmers watching their arable land turn arid. These personal accounts illuminate the complex relationship between environmental change and human adaptation.


Through intimate portraits and environmental documentation, the project shows how global challenges manifest in deeply personal ways, and where climate change isn't a future threat but a present reality. 

 Copyright 2025 Matthew Birch Media, All Rights Reserved

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