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Local communities & traditional know-how

Historically rich place in ethnic diversity and cultural practices, the ecosystem of the estuary of the lower delta of the Senegal River has significant natural, land and marine resources. These natural resources undeniably contribute to economic growth by providing livelihoods to populations highly dependent on their productivity, as well as their resilience to the effects of climate change. Subsistence activities, such as fishing, livestock breeding, crafts, picking and market gardening, are essentially dependent on flooding.

livestock

Traditional livestock activity thrives within the park : in recent years, the number of livestock has quadrupled for small ruminants, and tripled for cows and camels. A significant arrival of camels was noted due to the regeneration of plant cover and fodder resources, all thanks to a sustainable water management.

  • Total herd estimated at 58 head in 500, including 16 cattle, 000 small wags (including 40 sheep and 000 goats) and 10 camels
  • 93 466 000 MRU of annual added value generated (IVV, 2021)
Shepherd with lambs
Herd of cows
Cows
Fish being processed (Guedj)
Fishing Loot
Fisherman in action

Artisanal fishing

In the Park and its peripheral area, fishing for freshwater fish (in the basins and in the river) begins in July, to continue during the winter with larger catches during the months of November and December. In the brackish waters of the N'Ter basin, shrimp fishing begins during the months of October or November.

  • 130 fishermen and 30 women fishmongers
  • 450 tonnes of fish caught on average per year : mullet (Mugilidae), catfish (Ameiurus melas) or Clarias gariepinus
  • 6 tonnes of shrimp caught on average per year for the 2 species of Penaeidae (shrimp) : Penaeus keraturus et Penaeus notialis
  • Dried and smoked fish, commonly called Guedj : production & export to urban centers (Nouakchott, Rosso, Saint-Louis, etc.)
  • 9 828 000 MRU of annual added value generated (IVV, 2021), including 60% from the sale of fresh fish, 30% from processed fish and 10% from shrimp

Gathering and crafts

Conducted by 300 women grouped into 16 cooperatives, the picking activity generates more than 8 076 000 MUK annual value added (IVV, 2021), thanks to different products, which can be used for:

  • Diet : water lily seeds and flour (Nymphea Alba et Nymphea Lotus), cooked into a popular local couscous, rich in fiber and low in sugar
  • Livestock grazing : Echinochloa colonna, Proposis...
  • Construction : Acacia tortilis, Typha domengensis...
  • THE HOUSE : bulbs and rhizomes of Cyperus articulatus also called Tare ; Prosopis for domestic energy…
  • Making traditional mats : stems of Sporobulus robustus
  • Tanning of hides : pods ofAcacia nilotica
  • Traditional medicine : acacia tortilis ; fruit ofAcacia nilotica as an antiseptic; Boscia senegalensis ; Cassia italica ; Tamarendis Indica ; Maytenus senegalensis for fever or stomach aches…
  • Hygiene : handmade soaps made from different local species ; Commiphora africana ; Maerua crassifolia ; persian savior like a toothpick...
Making traditional mats
Picking water lilies
Tanning of hides
Watering the plots
turnips
Market garden plot seen from the sky
Watering the plots

Vegetable Farming

Non-traditional activity, market gardening was introduced as a generating activity income by the PND in its peripheral zone, thanks to the sustainable water management which allowed the softening of the water table.

Market gardening is practiced by local communities in addition to other traditional activities, which are dependent on flooding and which can therefore only be carried out at certain times of the year.

Recently, local populations have diversified the cultivated species: if turnip or onion remain the majority in production, we now see plants of tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, carrots, squash, okra or even cabbage. The harvests are then mainly sold on the markets of nearby urban centers (Nouakchott, Rosso, Saint-Louis, etc.), or used for self-consumption.

  • 400 tonnes of vegetables per year
  • 255 operators
  • 5 MRU of added value annual generated (IVV, 2021)

Trade Unions (UdM)

The PND has established in 2015 a co-management system and shared governance, thanks to la structuring of the 45 PND cooperatives into 4 Trades Unions (UdM), 1 for each trade (Crafts – Fishing – Market gardening – Livestock breeding). These Trades Unions allow better representation and integration of community interests local authorities during governance bodies (CSH, P…), while benefiting from their experience and knowledge of the park. This initiative also responds to a desire de local development in consultation, by supporting development projects initiated by local communities themselves and managed with they.

Union of Craft Trades

To learn more about the ecosystem values ​​of the PND...