Nilo-Sudan Freshwater

An important habitat within the Nilo-Sudan freshwater ecoregion is the Lake Chad Basin. This habitat is surrounded by desert and arid lands and does not drain into the ocean. Animals living here include the dama gazelle, red-fronted gazelle, elephants, lions, giraffes, and black-crowned cranes. The entire area holds a human population of approximately 30 million and their modern-day activities have had a detrimental impact on the basin. In order to meet water needs and hydroelectric demands, extensive damming has changed the flow of water emptying into this basin. Increased populations require more water not only for household needs but also for crop irrigation and climate change has resulted in decreased rainfall in an already arid land. Lake Chad and the surrounding area are drying up and shrinking.