With the Niger River and Senegal River passing through the south of Mali (the Sudanian and Sudano-Guinean areas), it is not surprising that the soil is fertile. This is also where the district of Bamako is found. This area receives more rain than XXXXX (average 55 inches) and is characterized by savannas and light forests. The Niger River is a fishing and transportation resource. On the Senegal River tributary, the Bafing River, the Manantali Damn produces hydroelectric power.
The center of the country exhibits a Sahelian sub-desert climate (found in Kayes, Segou, Koulikoro and Mopti). Rainfall is variable with a long, dry season and a short, three-month wet season, with rainfall averaging 20 inches annually. The local vegetation is thorny and used for pastoral activity.
Northern Mali (Tomouctou, Gao, and Kidal) has a Saharan climate and includes more than half the country. Athough rainfall is low, it still promotes teh sprouting of a thick layer of grass throughout the country, which is taken advantage of by nomadic troops. Also, The Harmattan blows toward the ocean, adding to the area's arid climate.
Desertification
Two-thirds of Mali is covered by an ever-expanding desert. Since the population stress on Mali is increasing, with Malian population growth rates among the highest in the world, the Malian government has acknowledged that desertification needs to be addressed.
In 1977 the United Nations Conference on Desertification created a Plan of Action to Comat Desertification. It was eventually determined that desertification had intensified and a local approach would be necessary. Mali was one of the first countries to sign onto the International Convention to Combat Desertifiation (CCD) in 2002. Mali is also involved in many major national programs and donor assistance programs that prioritize combating desertification. The national Plan of Action, which is the Malian plan to implement the CCD, emphasizes employing the sustainable management of natural resources to combat desertification.
Locally elected authorities, or Maries, are essential to the Plan of Action since they are responsible for all development activities in their communes. Working with the Maries is essential to the jatropha project to ensure success in Didieni as well as future villages.
The Mali Project Group
Engineers Without Borders
Design That Matters
Mali FolkeCenter