When Fire Retreats, Life Advances
My name is Moustapha Matalama Mahamat, and I work as a field officer in the Batha region for Sahara Conservation in Chad. For the past year, I’ve been working closely with local communities across the vast and arid landscapes of the Ouadi Rimé–Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve. Every day, I witness firsthand the profound impact our conservation efforts can have on people’s lives.
One moment has stayed with me above all: my encounter with Fatima Allazam. This brave woman from the Misserié Walad Tourki tribe is a breeder of camels and sheep. She lives in Khibebich, near the Michegué waterhole, in the Ouadi Djadid area of the Batha region. In 2020, a bushfire ravaged her grazing lands. Her fodder reserves were reduced to ashes, and she lost twelve camels. Fatima was devastated.
Bushfires pose a serious threat, not only to the fragile ecosystems of the region but also to the safety and livelihoods of nomadic communities. To protect wildlife, vegetation, and people from these fires, Sahara Conservation teams work every year to open and maintain firebreaks.
When I spoke with Fatima again recently, her face was different. There was a light in her eyes, a sense of relief.
She told me about the firebreaks we had created. These plowed strips of land, which interrupt the spread of fire, have completely changed her life. Fires no longer rage like they once did. Her animals are safe. Her fodder is preserved. And most importantly, she feels secure.
She shared something I hadn’t considered: thanks to the firebreaks, she now avoids the bites of scorpions and venomous snakes, which are common in the area. The cleared ground makes it easier to spot and steer clear of danger. “Before, I used to sleep in fear. Now, I sleep,” she told me.
“Before, I used to sleep in fear. Now, I sleep.”
Bushfires are a silent enemy. Here, they destroy everything: grazing land, livestock, and hope. But today, we are fighting back with a real strategy. What I love most about my work is seeing the tangible difference we make. We’re not just protecting wildlife or landscapes, we’re supporting human lives, restoring hope and dignity to those who have lost so much.
In this dusty expanse, every fire we stop is a victory. And every smile we help bring back, like Fatima’s, reminds me why I’m here. I’m proud of what we’re accomplishing.
