Nurturing the Environment on Senegal's West Coast
The natural reserve of Ker Cupaam, is located along the Atlantic coast in Senegal, a fragment of a former national forest, basically for the protection of endangered species. Both the flora, and fauna had been severely damaged as a result of drough...
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| Format: | Brief |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Washington, DC
2012
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/1999/05/1671260/nurturing-environmet-senegals-west-coast-nurturing-environment-senegals-west-coast http://hdl.handle.net/10986/10830 |
| Summary: | The natural reserve of Ker Cupaam, is
located along the Atlantic coast in Senegal, a fragment of a
former national forest, basically for the protection of
endangered species. Both the flora, and fauna had been
severely damaged as a result of drought, grazing, and
firewood harvest. Though constitution of the nature reserve
in the 1980s, helped control further environmental
degradation, the region's vegetation had been so
severely damaged, that clearly intensive efforts were needed
to restore its ecology, and attract tourism to benefit the
local population. The creation of the Association of Women
of Popenguine for the Protection of the Environment, took
place in 1988, which used its own resources, and later
additional donor assistance. Measures included the
constitution of green firebreaks around the perimeter,
replanting native species, and organizing workshops to learn
about nature conservation in order to perform the required
labor. This lead to measures for the provision of alternate
sources of energy, and to achieve commercial
self-sufficiency to obtain cooking fuel; a cooperative
network would distribute wood, charcoal, and gas, and,
regulate consumption; a village tree nursery, and forest
conservation efforts begun; and, collection of household
wastes for composting was established. Soon, surrounding
villages were participating, and, new dimensions included
credit and banking; tourist and training infrastructure;
and, youth employment. The reserve now covers fifty square
miles, and provide economic opportunities for bordering communities. |
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