Mangrove Reforestation

Volunteers in the Fatick region partnered with Oceanium, a Senegalese environmental protection association, in organizing a large scale mangrove reforestation project. Last year volunteers planted over 20,000 mangrove seedlings in the Sine Saloume Delta in order to combat the deforestation that occurs in the region due to the cutting of tree to harvest oysters and use the wood to built huts. Being an agrofoerstry volunteer, it was hard to say no to this opportunity of spending time in the gorgeous delta region and the mangroves!

Evidence of deforestation problem

A total of 47 volunteers stayed at the eco-campement Keur Bamboung, before the day of the project. I had a long day of travel taking the 4am bus to Tambacounda and then meeting up with a group the following morning to take a sept place to Toubacouta at 6:30am. We arrived in time to grab lunch at a "cheb shak" (lunch booth) that was only serving "maffe" (rice with a peanut sauce), wait for others to arrive and took a ferry to the island. A twenty minute walk took us to the campement before sunset before enjoying our evening and a delicious meal of cous cous with a meaty onion sauce.

In the morning, we headed out at 8:30am taking advantage of the morning low tide. After getting the seedlings delivered, we put them in the general area where we would plant them. The goal: 40,000 over a kilometer square area. After four hours of drawing lines, pacing out spacing, and planting the seedlings (easy since the ground is so soft, e.g. no digging/shovel required, and the seedlings can be pushed right into the ground), we did it! Our coordinators Garrison, Rob, and Jamie were awesome. I am really happy I came out although was bummed that I couldn't stay another night (I am traveling north to be a help out at a USAID English camp starting Monday morning) in Toubacouta to take advantage of opportunity to play with baby lions and the nearby nature reserve!