A huge mining dredger swallows acre after acre of the fertile coastal strip where most of Senegal's vegetables are grown-- also displacing residents, affecting tourism, and according to locals destroying this rich but delicate ecosystem on the western edge of Africa's semi-arid Sahel. The French mining group Eramet running the colossal floating factory denies any wrongdoing, insists its operations are exemplary and even plans to step up the pace of mining.” It's in fact an apocalyptic place now,” says Cheikh Yves Jacquemain, owner of an ecolodge in the Lompoul desert, one of the smallest and most beautiful deserts in the world. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES N°36ZJ2EWN°37267JZ