341. Senegalese biodiversity has a very rich potential. Recent estimates show a
potential of 3093 plant species out of which 32 are endangered, 4330 animal
species out of which 112 are endangered. Senegal quickly passed a law to
enable the country to effectively manage the utilization of natural resources
and biodiversity outside the protected areas, and its accession to the United
Nations Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992 enabled the nation to
support, formalize and harmonize widely-spread traditions on its territory as well
as a proactive government policy on natural resource conservation and
management (parks network, natural reserves and protected areas).
342. Today, the classified areas include six (6) national parks, six (6) reserves rich
in birds, three (3) biosphere reserves and two (2) world heritage sites including
two hundred and sixteen (216) classified forests but the country is confronted
with a degradation of the vegetation cover and a reduction of woody
potential within and out of the classified forestry formations; the consequence is
that some animal and plant species are disappearing.
343. The national strategy put in place aims at preserving the gains through
appropriate management which allows the population to be brought on board
by taking into account productive activities and also involving them in the
benefits derived from conservation. It is focused on the following activities:
Conservation of biodiversity in high density areas ;
Integration of biodiversity conservation in production programmes and
activities ;
Equitable sharing of the benefits accruing from biodiversity
management;
Information, sensitization and education of all potential stakeholders on
the importance and role of biodiversity and the need for its conservation.
344. For instance, this was how controlling invading aquatic plants helped to
treat 845.000 m2 of water bodies at the Delta of River Senegal in 2011 as
compared to 444.500 m2 in 2010. The results made it possible to better harness
water resources and improve the movement of boats on the cleaned parts,
improve drinking water in the adjoining villages, revive inland fishing (by
increased catches) and agricultural production activities (kitchen gardening ,
tree and rice cultivation).
345. However, concerning the management of parks and natural reserves, no
development and management plan has been outlined in recent years as a
result of the bottlenecks observed in procurement procedures. The inventory of
terrestrial wildlife has not been carried out due to lack of financial resources.
(3) Wildlife mangement:
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