Straddling the borders of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon in West Africa, Lake Chad has been a source of freshwater for irrigation projects in all these countries. This graphic traces the shrinkage of Lake Chad and changes in vegetation from 1963 to 2001. It includes maps of the lake from 1963, 1973, 1987, 1997 and 2001. Climatic changes and high demands for agricultural water are responsible for the lake's shrinkage.
Year: 2006
From collection: World Resources 2008: Roots of Resilience - Growing the Wealth of the Poor
Cartographer:
Philippe Rekacewicz and Hugo Ahlenius ,UNEP/GRID-Arendal