Future Sahel

Future Sahel (“Multi-scale approaches for best resource management practices of Sahelian
landscapes in the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative context”) is a project observing and following the implementation of the pan-African Great Green Wall of the Sahara and Sahel Initiative (GGW) in Senegal.

The GGW initiative has evolved from the original idea of a massive reforestation programme into a series of multi-sectorial actions addressing both ecological and social aspects of the diverse social-ecological systems it crosses. The project is led by SRC-affiliated Dr Deborah Goffner and funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR).

The fact that the Senegalese GGW agency is a Future Sahel partner creates excellent opportunities for research data to be directly integrated into GGW actions. An initial exploratory field mission along the planned stretch of the GGW in Senegal by a multi-disciplinary team provided an overview of the different social-ecological systems present. These will be further characterized in the project. Future Sahel will also address aspects of building resilience and examining potential transformation pathways to be included in the implementation of the GGW. This will be done through resilience assessments and/or participatory scenarios.

List of publications

Niang, K., Bassimbe Sagna, M. B., Ndiaye, O., Thiaw, A., Diallo, A., Akpo, L. E., Saleh, M.M. Diome, N., Diatta, S., Faye, M. N., Gueye, M., Guissé, A., Goffner, D. 2014. Revisiting tree species availability and usage in the Ferlo region of Senegal: A rationale for indigenous tree planting strategies in the context of the great green wall for the Sahara and Sahel initiative. Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences 2(6): 529-537.

Sagna MB, Ndiaye O, Diallo A, Goffner D, Guissé A (2014) Biochemical composition and nutritional value of Balanites aegyptiaca fruit pulp from the Ferlo region in northern Senegal. Afr J Biotechnol 13: 336-342.

Sagna MB, Niang K, Guissé A, Goffner D (2014) Ecological and ethnobotanical knowledge of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. by local populations in the Ferlo region in the north of Senegal. Biotechnol Agron Soc Environ 18: 503-511.

Guissé A, Boëtsch G, Ducourneau A, Goffner D, Gueye L (2013) L’observatoire homme– milieux international Tessékére (Ohmi) : un outil de recherche pour étudier la complexité des écosystèmes arides du Sahel. CRAS Biologie 336:273-277