The world’s oases are at the forefront of a crucial battle against climate change
© Matilde Gattoni
Rising temperatures and droughts are threatening an entire civilisation and one of the most efficient barriers against desertification.
In Morocco alone, two-thirds of the oases have already disappeared, wiped away by the advancing Sahara and the destruction of their ecosystem. Local activists are now trying to salvage what’s left by rediscovering the oases’ long-forgotten teachings in climate adaptation, which could prove invaluable in saving our planet.
For millennia, oases have thrived in an inhospitable environment by using their limited resources to their full potential. From farming to architecture and water management, their civilisation is a throve of techniques for preserving natural resources and adjusting to extreme weather patterns that can be learnt and applied worldwide.
We spent three weeks among some of the world’s most iconic oases, witnessing a struggle that could shape our future.
Story produced together with photographer Matilde Gattoni. Text and pictures available