he Sahel is
a transition zone between the Sahara desert and the wetter tropical
areas to the south. This area is seriously affected by a very low and erratic rainfall
of 4 to 6 inches from June to September. Only limited cultivation is possible, and there is inadequate vegetation for nomadic herding. 
Because of overgrazing and poor irrigation practices in some areas, land is being
reduced to desert at a rate of 3900 square miles per year.
Goats, horses and cattle further degrade the land by compacting soil, trampling
vegetation, and reducing water absorption which inhibits new growth.
Arable land, formerly productive, is constantly being lost to the encroaching
desert.
The high fertility rates in these 10 Central African countries further increases the drain on limited natural resources.
This syndrome illustrates the destruction of natural resources through non-adaptive farming, overgrazing, and fire.
