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WELCOME Shifting sands Landscapes all over the world are changing rapidly. Sometimes it’s the result of direct human intervention, sometimes climate change is to blame – more often than not both collide. Such is the case in Morocco, where many of the desert oases that have harboured life for hundreds, if not thousands, of years are now drying up, fuelled by a combination of destructive farming practices and increased drought driven by climate change. On page 26, Matteo Fagotto and Matilde Gattoni take a tour of the Draa Valley oases to find more about the tools being wielded to hold back the sands. Change is also underway closer to home. On page 18, Mark Rowe explores the problem of coastal erosion in the British Isles. Given the expense that comes with preventing erosion, so far, it seems very little is being done to tackle the problem. But sticking our heads in the sand could mean even greater expense further down the line. A million properties are at risk of inundation by 2050, along with major infrastructure. As is so often the case, nature provides some solutions. Just as more natural farming practices can help protect land in Morocco, so too can the UK’s natural landscapes – such as saltmarshes, mudflats, shingle beaches, sand dunes and sea cliffs – provide protection against waves and storm surges. But with these landscapes also under threat, we can’t take nature for granted. And, don’t forget to turn to page 60, to find the winners of this year’s Earth Photo competition, celebrating our planet’s landscapes, people and nature while once again highlighting the need to protect them. Katie Burton Editor CONTRIBUTORS ‘Looking at the oases disappearing is both heartbreaking and fascinating,’ says Matteo Fagotto (page 26), who with photographer Matilde Gattoni travelled to the increasingly dry Draa Valley region of Morocco where oases are in trouble. ‘Witnessing the end of a millenary civilisation while nature reclaims its rightful spot reminds you that we are guests - not masters on this planet.’ ‘We found it fascinating that a project in a small orphanage in Kampot is able to recover and preserve the traditional music of Cambodia, which was in danger of disappearing after the genocide of the Khmer Rouge, while at the same time empowering these young blind people by giving them the tools to be able to fulfil themselves as musicians’ says Laura Fornell (page 34). ‘Throughout much of Africa’s history, its image has been defined from an outsider’s point of view – it’s time that changed,’ says Bryony Cottam. On page 42, she speaks to the photographers championing local representation as part of a new project: Postcards of Africa, which aims to create an archive of images that reflect the diversity and complex history of the continent. 4 . GEOGRAPHICAL Geographical GEOGRAPHICAL July 2020 Volume 92 Issue 07 Publisher Graeme Gourlay Editor Katie Burton Design Gordon Beckett Staff writer Bryony Cottam Operations director Simon Simmons Sales and marketing director Chloe Smith ADDRESS Geographical, Suite 3.16, QWest, Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 0GP Telephone: 020 8332 8405 Email: magazine@geographical.co.uk ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Telephone: 020 3900 0147 Email: geographical@syonmedia.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Geographical, Freepost (SCE 12967), Thatcham RG19 4BR Telephone: 01635 588 496 Fax: 01635 868 594 Email: geographical@circdata.com ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES UK: £54, EUROPE: £67, USA: £76, REST OF THE WORLD: £77 NEWSSTAND SALES AND MARKETING Intermedia Telephone: 01293 312 001 Email: getintouch@inter-media.co.uk NEWSSTAND DISTRIBUTION Fastmag, Circulation Department Telephone: 01582 475 333 Email: comments@fastmagltd.co.uk © Syon Geographical Ltd Registered No. 07457559 Printed by Precision Colour Printing, Telford, UK SUBMISSIONS Editorial proposals are only required from established writers and photojournalists. Please send them to magazine@geographical.co.uk. For contrib­utors’ guide­lines please send an email to magazine@geographical.co.uk. Please do not send unsolicited photographic material. Geographical © is the magazine of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), and was founded by Michael Huxley in 1935. The publishers of Geographical pay a licence fee to the RGS–IBG. This fee is assigned to a fund for the advancement of exploration and research and the promotion of geographical knowledge. The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers or the Society. The publishers cannot be held responsible for loss of, or damage to, or the return of unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Published monthly. The paper in this magazine originates from timber grown in sustainable forests, responsibly managed to strict environmental, social and economic standards. For every tree that we use to make Geographical, three more are planted. Cover image Matilde Gattoni
page 5
CONTENTSSeptember 2022 • Volume 94 • Issue 9 COVER STORY 26LIFEINTHEDESERT In Morocco, oases that have harboured life for centuries are under threat, mirroring a trend seen across the globe. Matteo Fagotto and Matilde Gattoni speak to the people working hard to hold back the encroaching desert. 18 EROSION Several coastal regions of the British Isles are under threat from erosion, but attempting to hold back the waves is an expensive and difficult business. 32 PRESERVING CULTURE IN CAMBODIA A music school for orphans is passing on traditional knowledge. 42 POSTCARDS OF AFRICA A photography project challenges stereotypical images of Africa. 48 Find out more about the benefits of joining at www.rgs.org/joinus RGS panel THE NATURE OF DOMESTICATION Exploring the urban animals seemingly self-domesticating. DEPARTMENTS WORLDWATCH 6 Mineral evolution 8 Switching poles 9 Climatewatch 10 Yemen’s potential oil spill 12 Ozone controversy 13 Geopolitical hotspot: Japan’s defensive re-think 14 Research round-up 14 Geo-graphic: largest deserts REGULARS 56 Reviews 60 Gallery: Earth Photo 68 Geo-photographer: Arpita Shah 72 Discovering Britain: Sherwood Forest 74 Where in the World? 75 Crossword 76 RGS-IBG archive 78 In Society; RGS–IBG events 82 Next month: Africa’s last penguins SEPTEMBER 2022 . 5

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WELCOME

Shifting sands Landscapes all over the world are changing rapidly. Sometimes it’s the result of direct human intervention, sometimes climate change is to blame – more often than not both collide. Such is the case in Morocco, where many of the desert oases that have harboured life for hundreds, if not thousands, of years are now drying up, fuelled by a combination of destructive farming practices and increased drought driven by climate change. On page 26, Matteo Fagotto and Matilde Gattoni take a tour of the Draa Valley oases to find more about the tools being wielded to hold back the sands.

Change is also underway closer to home. On page 18, Mark Rowe explores the problem of coastal erosion in the British Isles. Given the expense that comes with preventing erosion, so far, it seems very little is being done to tackle the problem. But sticking our heads in the sand could mean even greater expense further down the line. A million properties are at risk of inundation by 2050, along with major infrastructure. As is so often the case, nature provides some solutions. Just as more natural farming practices can help protect land in Morocco, so too can the UK’s natural landscapes – such as saltmarshes, mudflats, shingle beaches, sand dunes and sea cliffs – provide protection against waves and storm surges. But with these landscapes also under threat, we can’t take nature for granted.

And, don’t forget to turn to page 60, to find the winners of this year’s Earth Photo competition, celebrating our planet’s landscapes, people and nature while once again highlighting the need to protect them. Katie Burton Editor

CONTRIBUTORS

‘Looking at the oases disappearing is both heartbreaking and fascinating,’ says Matteo Fagotto (page 26), who with photographer Matilde Gattoni travelled to the increasingly dry Draa Valley region of Morocco where oases are in trouble. ‘Witnessing the end of a millenary civilisation while nature reclaims its rightful spot reminds you that we are guests - not masters on this planet.’

‘We found it fascinating that a project in a small orphanage in Kampot is able to recover and preserve the traditional music of Cambodia, which was in danger of disappearing after the genocide of the Khmer Rouge, while at the same time empowering these young blind people by giving them the tools to be able to fulfil themselves as musicians’ says Laura Fornell (page 34).

‘Throughout much of Africa’s history, its image has been defined from an outsider’s point of view – it’s time that changed,’ says Bryony Cottam. On page 42, she speaks to the photographers championing local representation as part of a new project: Postcards of Africa, which aims to create an archive of images that reflect the diversity and complex history of the continent.

4 . GEOGRAPHICAL

Geographical

GEOGRAPHICAL

July 2020 Volume 92 Issue 07

Publisher Graeme Gourlay

Editor Katie Burton Design Gordon Beckett Staff writer Bryony Cottam Operations director Simon Simmons Sales and marketing director Chloe Smith

ADDRESS Geographical, Suite 3.16, QWest,

Great West Road, Brentford,

Middlesex TW8 0GP Telephone: 020 8332 8405 Email: magazine@geographical.co.uk

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT

Telephone: 020 3900 0147 Email: geographical@syonmedia.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Geographical, Freepost (SCE 12967), Thatcham RG19 4BR

Telephone: 01635 588 496

Fax: 01635 868 594 Email: geographical@circdata.com

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES

UK: £54, EUROPE: £67, USA: £76, REST OF THE WORLD: £77

NEWSSTAND SALES AND MARKETING

Intermedia Telephone: 01293 312 001 Email: getintouch@inter-media.co.uk

NEWSSTAND DISTRIBUTION Fastmag, Circulation Department

Telephone: 01582 475 333 Email: comments@fastmagltd.co.uk

© Syon Geographical Ltd Registered No. 07457559 Printed by Precision Colour Printing, Telford, UK

SUBMISSIONS Editorial proposals are only required from established writers and photojournalists.

Please send them to magazine@geographical.co.uk. For contrib­utors’ guide­lines please send an email to magazine@geographical.co.uk. Please do not send unsolicited photographic material.

Geographical © is the magazine of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), and was founded by

Michael Huxley in 1935. The publishers of

Geographical pay a licence fee to the RGS–IBG.

This fee is assigned to a fund for the advancement of exploration and research and the promotion of geographical knowledge. The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers or the Society. The publishers cannot be held responsible for loss of, or damage to, or the return of unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.

Published monthly.

The paper in this magazine originates from timber grown in sustainable forests, responsibly managed to strict environmental, social and economic standards.

For every tree that we use to make Geographical,

three more are planted.

Cover image Matilde Gattoni

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