Increasing the resilience of ecosystems and communities through the restoration of the productive bases of salinized lands

Restoring salinized lands through improved knowledge and planning, and implementing measures such as hydraulic works, reforestation, anti-soil erosion systems, and use of adapted agriculture.

Causes of land salinization in Senegal linked to climate change include persistent drought; low infiltration of fresh water, leading to salt water intrusion; rising sea level, causing saltwater encroachment on land; and the combined effect of reduced rainfall and increasing temperatures.

The project will strengthen the capacity to develop desalinization and land management plans, raise awareness, and improve knowledge by creating maps and a real-time database of salinized land.

Activities to reduce the impacts of salinization will be undertaken including the construction of small dams and artificial basins, large ponds, anti-salt works, and use of drip irrigation. Biological measures will include reforestation, protection of soils against erosion, mangrove restoration, promotion of biosaline agriculture, and use of natural phosphate, manures, and composts to improve soil fertility.

Food security will increase through improved production using adapted seeds, better food security stocks, improved processing units, and organization of farming partnerships and cooperatives.

The project has an estimated lifespan of 4 years.