The Lake Chad Conventional Basin: A Diagnostic Study of Environmental Degradation summarizes the symptoms of environmental "ill health" in the basin, such as erosion of formerly productive lands, overused groundwater, loss of wildlife species, and forced migrations of humans during periods of famine and drought. The report attempts to pinpoint the causes of degradation of the soils, water, air, and plant and animal life within the conventional basin and to suggest and to set priorities for strategies for healing the basin's environmental wounds. This report is diagnostic. It does not include the project designs, cost estimates, environmental and socioeconomic assessments, national government priorities, and methods of attracting donors that will appear in the Action Plan.