Community project to mitigate the negative effects of climate change in the Fimela area.
Situation : In progress | Number of beneficiaries : 8000 people
Duration of the project : 2020/2024, 4 years
Location : Senegal, Fatick region, Fimela
Local Partner
Youth and Development (JED) / Scouts and Girl Scouts of Senegal (EEDS) is a development NGO created in 1936, and established in all regions of Senegal, inspired by Scout values, serving young people and the community. Its mission is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the populations, mainly in the field of health, education, socio-economic integration and the environment, by preparing young people in particular for their role of active and responsible citizens in synergy with the Girl Scouts and Scouts of Senegal. Its areas of intervention are:
- youth education,
- the health,
- citizen participation,
- the living environment of vulnerable groups,
- the protection of the environment,
- hygiene, water and sanitation,
- training and microcredit.
Context
In Senegal, the impacts of climate change present serious risks for agriculture, water resources, and coastal areas (CPDN, 2015).
The Fimela district is full of land, forestry, water, fishing, resources, etc.
The borough is experiencing a high rate of deforestation which threatens the plant cover and particularly the mangrove which covers about 30% of the surface and which preserves and develops fishery resources. This deforestation is due to human pressure and changes in climatic conditions (vicious circle). With the ever-increasing need for cultivable and residential land, the search for wood as building or heating material is heating up the degradation of the environment. In addition, the advancement of the salt tongue and the development of tourist accommodation spaces are reducing plant areas.
The Samba Dia forest, located 3 km from Fimela (classified forest, managed by a committee from several villages), covers an area of 7.56 km2. It is considered a “protected forest” and has the status of a biosphere reserve. Very much in demand by the populations of the surrounding villages, the forest is attacked especially for firewood, by cattle routes and strong exploitation of healers who look for medicinal plants (roots, bark, sap, leaves, flowers).
Environmental conservation programs are not always coordinated and monitoring of actions initiated is becoming scarce. The elected officials and the administrative authorities, despite their goodwill, are not equipped enough to effectively play their role of stimulus, animation, and control of the preservation of the environment.
Grassroots community organizations are very dynamic. The populations organize themselves at the base and take encouraging initiatives. However, they fail to fit into sustainability.
Children are not often taken into account for lack of involvement and environmental education program.
We are therefore in a context of severe degradation of resources and lack of innovative and sustainable environmental initiatives to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.
Activities
The project activities revolve around four components:
- (1) Capacity building for stakeholders. These are local decision-makers, community leaders, children’s supervisors, etc. Their force of action will be decisive in the proposed arrangement.
- (2) Communication focused on changing people’s behavior and civic engagement. This change in behavior and this commitment is imperative and urgent. To do this, people must have access to information and be aware of the consequences of climate effects.
- (3) The promotion of appropriate techniques for the sustainable use of environmental resources and the fight against climate change. To support this change in behavior, it will also be necessary to support communities with alternatives.
- (4) The popularization of successful initiatives on a much larger scale. Indeed, it will certainly be necessary to work at the grassroots level with the communities, but it is essential to disseminate the successes for the dissemination of good practices and the commitment of decision-makers.
Beneficiaries
The project will reach 8000 men and women, resource users: farmers, fishermen, fish processors, traditional healers, breeders, wooden craftsmen, beekeepers, hunters, hoteliers, and dwellings.
More precisely :
- 50 young leaders of community organizations
- 50 women leaders
- 50 community actors (religious, customary, administrative, etc.)
- 50 municipal councilors
- 50 teachers
- 1000 students, scouts, talibé children, etc.
- 7,500 young people, men, and women.