Desertification and land degradation are among the main causes of low agricultural productivity in Senegal. Extreme weather conditions related to climate change make matters worse, affecting food security, livelihoods and job opportunities, triggering forced migration from rural areas.

Action Against Desertification supports Senegal’s National Agency of the Great Green Wall working on community-based management of land and natural resources through the following activities:

Sustainable land management and restoration: 7 876 ha of degraded land were restored over the course of the project through a combination of mechanized and manual restoration. More than 1 000 people benefited from these efforts, with 50 percent being women. Fifteen species were planted from 4 215 kg of seeds and 1 178 691 seedlings.

Wildlife management: 20 land turtles and 11 Sahelo-Saharan antelopes were reintroduced into the Koyli-Alpha natural reserve through a partnership with Nature Tropicale Sénégal. A management committee was established, and training was provided for community technicians on the management of the animals that were reintroduced in the natural reserve.

Income generating activities: a small business producing and selling non-timber forest products, led by women and youth, was established, while tourist services in the nature reserve are being developed by the communities of Koyli-Alpha. Thanks to these activities, a total of USD 9 956 was generated for beneficiaries.

Capacity development: 15 training sessions and workshops were held. Certain activities at these events, e.g. extraction techniques and soapmaking with balanites oil, were designed specifically for women. More than 297 beneficiaries were reached. Nearly half of the capacity-development activities focused on market analysis and development and NTFPs. Capacity assessments and restoration and plantation were also covered in other activities.