The Role of Drought in Economic and Spacious Transformations in the Senegalese River                         Countryside in Mauritania – An Analytical Study in the Geography of the Countryside                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Dr. Eabd Allah Sayidi Muhamad ‘Abnu (pp. 82–111)

Researcher in the field of rural development, agriculture, and rural stability in Mauritania.

Abstract

Drought, the scarcity of agriculturally suitable land, and the weakness and irregularity of rainfall over successive years have led to increasing rural migration toward Mauritanian cities. This movement has contributed to rapid social change and transformations in economic and living conditions, as large segments of the population shifted from agriculture and rural development to other occupations such as trade and employment in the public and private sectors. In light of the negative environmental, social, and economic impacts of drought, this study examines and analyses the most significant causes and problems associated with drought and climate change in Mauritania and their role in spatial, economic, and social transformations in the Mauritanian countryside. The study aims to highlight the major effects of drought on environmental and human systems in Mauritania. To achieve these objectives, descriptive, analytical, and comparative approaches were employed. The research relies on field data as well as official and unofficial reports issued by authorities responsible for environmental protection and sustainable development in Mauritania, and it is expected to yield valuable findings and practical recommendations.

Keywords: Desertification and Drought, Economic Transformations, Social Transformations, Spatial Transformations, Sustainable Development, Rural Development