Senegal | < Sub-Saharan Africa

See also:
- Biodiversity and Tropical Forestry Assessment
- Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM)
- Casamance Integrated Rural Development


Technical Assistance for Reforestation Project
Funding source: USAID/Government of Senegal (GOS)

In response to Senegal's untenable rate of deforestation, SECID was contracted
to develop and mobilize large scale popular participation in and support for
reforestation utilizing public and private resources. The project helped educate
the people of Senegal regarding the benefits of reforestation, and transferred
sufficient technical knowledge to help them carry out tree planting with their own
resources at an ever increasing rate. Specific activities included:

• Policy reform and recommendations. A series of policy studies, meetings
  and analyses were undertaken to develop policy recommendations for
  senior GOS decision-makers to stimulate greater participation in tree
  planting. The scope of these studies was broad and included the Forest
  Code, the proper role of government in promoting private sector activity,
  pricing for tree products to reflect free market value, and integration of
  communities in the planting and management of trees.

• Media campaign development. This involved technical, commercial,
  educational and motivational activities designed to encourage and
  convince many stakeholder to participate in tree planting. It was
  based on outreach programs for radio and TV, articles for newspapers,
  and audio-visual kits of materials for use by extension agents in the
  region, among others.

• Training program development and implementation. Training consisted
  of 26 participants in US short courses and 6 Senegalese who completed
  Masters degrees in the US; 38 US observation tours; and over 1100
  in-country training participants.

• Private sector promotion. In addition to tree planting by individuals,
  three other major activities involved the private sector: establishment
  of nurseries, for which the media campaign and assistance of extension
  agents were the major change agents; roadside tree planting/maintenance
  carried out by private contractors; and investments in processing of tree
  products for domestic and export markets.