Senegal is a country rich in culture and tradition. Though, similar to many countries throughout Africa, Senegal confronts serious problems with poverty and malnutrition. Read more . . .
Our Response
In response to the problems faced by the rural people, Trees for the Future is teaching people how sustainable agriculture practices along with tree planting addresses many environmental, social, and economic problems simultaneously. Under the leadership of technicians Omar Ndao and Karamba Diakhaby, our activities are changing lives. Read more . . .
Program Update
Three major programs developed this past year in Senegal. First in the Kaffrine region, Omar worked with farmers in over 30 communities. Farmers are establishing forest gardens in their fields, integrating a variety of tree species with peanuts, corn, beans, sorghum and a variety of vegetable crops. Read more . . .
Overview of Social and Environmental Issues
Senegal is a country rich in culture and tradition. Though, similar to many countries throughout Africa, Senegal confronts serious problems with poverty and malnutrition. The majority of the population, over 70%, lives in rural areas and their lives and agriculture practices are dependent on infrequent and unpredictable rainfall, infertile soil, and the ability to protect their crops from pests. With the changing climate, their situations are becoming more desperate.
Less than half of the country’s forests remain, and are under constant threat from increased deforestation. The need for fuelwood, charcoal and construction materials requires people to encroach further and further into the forests. Moreover, uncontrolled slash and burn agriculture practices, peanut farming, and overgrazing further harm the land. The Sahelian desert is quickly expanding throughout the country. As the rich topsoil continues to degrade, crop yields are diminishing, and people’s livelihoods are further threatened.
The Grand Opening of the Trees for the Future Training Center
This Prosopis living fence
and windbreak drops large amounts of organic matter into this garden every year
Our Response
In response to the problems faced by the rural people, Trees for the Future is teaching people how sustainable agriculture practices along with tree planting addresses many environmental, social, and economic problems simultaneously. Under the leadership of technicians Omar Ndao and Karamba Diakhaby, our activities are changing lives.
Multipurpose windbreaks, alley cropping, and living fences have turned degraded areas green again and given farmers new hope. We are now taking agroforestry to the next level by adding additional income generating opportunities. The forest garden approach is becoming increasingly popular, as farmers see the benefit in integrating trees into their gardens. Having already planted well over a half million trees, the Senegal program continues to expand quickly under the guidance of Omar and Karamba and through the passion of so many hard working community leaders. We have been able to bring together the efforts of local NGOs, Peace Corps, and the Senegalese Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry, all of whom are currently using our training sites.
February 2011
Three major programs developed this past year in Senegal. First in the Kaffrine region, Omar worked with farmers in over 30 communities. Farmers are establishing forest gardens in their fields, integrating a variety of tree species with peanuts, corn, beans, sorghum and a variety of vegetable crops. Most farmers are establishing live fences, windbreaks and hedgerows while incorporating fruit trees on the interior. In total, farmers planted over 170,000 trees. With Omar’s help, the farmers are developing their gardening activities which have increased their families’ incomes significantly.
In 2010, A French organization coordinated with TREES to purchase 500,000 Jatropha curcas seedlings from farmers in Kaffrine. They are developing biodiesel production in the Louga region, where land is open, degraded and not particularly inhabited. They purchased the Senegal End of Year Report December 2010 seedlings from the farmers at 25cfa/seedling for a total of 12,500,000cfa or $23,000USD. It proved to be a very lucrative short term project for farmers to take part in while developing other activities in their fields.
In the South East, local technician Karamba Diakhaby worked with 6 different communities around the region of Kedougou. Tree planting focuses on live fencing, hedgerows and windbreaks, particularly along the Gambia River. This year was particularly difficult because the river flooded during the rainy season killing many of the planted seedlings. As with Kaffrine, TREES maintains a strong partnership with Peace Corps volunteers in this region. Both Omar and Karamba frequently help facilitate Peace Corps activities and trainings.
