This article was contributed by Drynet member ENDA in Senegal
Senegal’s mangrove forests constitute an ecosystem of inestimable value for biodiversity conservation and the resilience of local communities. However, they are under severe anthropogenic pressure. Excessive logging for fuelwood, marine sand mining and certain unsustainable traditional oyster farming practices have led to alarming degradation of these environments.
Situated in the western-most part of Africa, the Saloum Delta is a biodiversity gem. Nevertheless, nearly 25% of its mangrove woodlands have been degraded. Data collected between 2009 and 2021 show that their extent has decreased from 183,168 ha to 141,156 ha, representing a loss of 42,011 ha – approximately 3,500 ha per year. This erosion of mangroves is jeopardising the livelihoods of the communities that depend on them, the biodiversity they harbour and the natural protective systems that guard against flooding driven by climate change and sea level rise.
In response to this situation, ENDA ÉNERGIE goes beyond simple reforestation to focus on soil restoration and sustainable resource management by actively involving local communities.
Despite the many goods and services provided by the mangrove ecosystem, its degradation has direct consequences on biodiversity and the national economy. Aware of these issues, ENDA ENERGIE has established itself as a key player in ecological restoration by initiating large-scale participatory reforestation campaigns.
For more than a decade, ENDA ENERGIE has supported the restoration of degraded land in Senegal’s wetlands over more than 300 hectares, planting more than a million propagules. Its reforestation programmes mainly target:
- The Saloum River delta (marine protected areas of Gandoul, Sangomar, Bamboung, Joal and the Palmarin community reserve)
- Casamance (Ufoyal Kassa Bandial MPA, in the south of the country)
Ecological restoration helps restore the ecosystem’s ecological and economic functions. ENDA ÉNERGIE’s experience shows that reforestation meets the needs of local communities by facilitating the reproduction of fish and seafood (oysters, mussels, etc.) and supports sustainable fishing while also helping to combat the silting up of bolongs, thus facilitating the passage of pirogues and mobility between villages.
The reforestation carried out also took into account the ecosystem balance, preserving mudflats – resting places for birds – and areas reserved for artisanal fishing, in order to maintain the vital functions of the ecosystem and local economic activities.
By 2025, within the Gandoul, Sangomar, Bamboung and Ufoyal Kassa Bandial Marine Protected Areas, 56 hectares of mangroves had been replanted. This action has reshaped the landscape and restored hope to communities that depend on these ecosystems for fishing and for the natural protection of their coasts against erosion.
Thanks to this integrated approach, several hectares of mangroves and community forests have now been restored, contributing to:
- carbon sequestration,
- soil preservation,
- and the climate resilience of degraded areas.
Reforestation is no longer just an environmental action. It has become a social and economic act that unites residents around a common project, values their local knowledge and restores their confidence in their ability to preserve their environment and build their future.