Home Women take the lead to protect Senegal’s Saloum delta

Women take the lead to protect Senegal’s Saloum delta

Published on

2 June 2023

The Saloum delta is a coastal region in Senegal that is a veritable labyrinth of islands, characterized by rich vegetation, but this magnificent ecosystem is threatened by the ramifications of climate change and damaging environmental practices.

We want to highlight the impressive efforts of a group of women in Senegal’s Saloum delta to protect this unique environment that is recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Women living in the delta are tackling these threats thanks to a project conceived by the local organization Nébéday and supported by the Centre de solidarité internationale (International Solidarity Centre) of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and the Roncalli International Foundation.

The project supports women who are members of economic interest groups in the villages of Thialane, Siwo and Bassar in adapting to climate change and sustainably managing resources. The women are taking the lead in their communities in using technologies that produce low greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions), and taking up the practice of agro-forestry.

Le projet favorise le changement social; il contribue à réduire l’utilisation du bois par la communauté, tout en offrant aux femmes de nouvelles possibilités d’activités génératrices de revenu. Dans le cadre du projet, des formations sur la fabrication de foyers améliorés ont eu lieu. Ces foyers favorisent l’emploi rationnel du bois, ce qui s’avère essentiel dans la lutte contre la déforestation. Résultat : l’utilisation de bois de chauffage a diminué de 50 %. De plus, l’introduction de l’usage du biocombustible, produit essentiellement à base de paille, a permis à la fois de réduire les feux de brousse et d’éviter l’usage de bois de palétuviers.

La Fondation Internationale Roncalli a apporté un appui de 27 800 $ aux groupements de femmes en vue de les doter en équipement et en matériel. Cette aide soutient leurs efforts pour démarrer de nouvelles activités dans le but de préserver l’écosystème fragilisé du delta et réduire leur empreinte carbone.

The women have seen an improvement in their living conditions, a reduction in GHG emissions and an increase in food and forestry yields. Their next goal is to promote the wider use of these new techniques in their communities to ensure the preservation of this environment they call home.

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