What impact has sand harvesting had on coastal farmlands in Cape Verde?

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Sand Harvesting Devastates Cape Verdean Agriculture

Sand harvesting in Cape Verde has resulted in catastrophic consequences for coastal agriculture, leading to the degradation of farmland and the displacement of farmers. The relentless extraction of sand has disrupted natural coastal defenses, allowing seawater to inundate agricultural lands and render them infertile through salinisation. This environmental damage has forced numerous farmers to abandon their livelihoods as their fields become unproductive.
Salinisation Renders Farmland Unusable

The direct impact of sand harvesting on coastal farmlands is the severe degradation of soil quality due to salinisation. When sand is removed from beaches and coastal areas, the natural barriers that protect inland areas from the sea are weakened or destroyed. This breach allows seawater to penetrate the land, leading to an increase in salt content in the soil. For instance, in the Santa Cruz municipality, agricultural engineer Samuel Leal noted that farmland behind the Praia de Areia Grande beach has vanished, replaced by acacia trees, as a consequence of this process.
Farmers Forced to Abandon Fields

The salinisation of soil has made agricultural activities unsustainable, compelling farmers to abandon their ancestral lands. The loss of fertile land directly impacts food production and the livelihoods of farming communities. In the Santa Cruz municipality alone, nearly 100 farmers have been forced to cease their operations due to the encroaching sea and degraded soil conditions. This has created significant economic hardship for these individuals and their families, who relied on these lands for survival.
Ecosystem Alteration and Loss of Productive Land

Beyond the immediate impact on agriculture, sand harvesting has led to broader ecological changes along the coast. The removal of sand alters the natural landscape, impacting the vegetation that previously thrived. The transformation of productive farmland into areas dominated by salt-tolerant species like acacia trees signifies a permanent loss of agricultural potential. This shift in the ecosystem underscores the long-term, detrimental effects of unsustainable sand extraction practices on Cape Verde's coastal regions.

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What impact has sand harvesting had on coastal farmlands in Cape Verde?

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