SENEGAL About 45 percent of Senegal is forested. Of this, a little more than 18 percent is considered pristine primary forest—one of the higher rates in West Africa. While Senegal lost some 675,000 hectares of forest between 1990 and 2005, the country's deforestation rate has only increased by 5 percent since the 1990s. Deforestation is mostly the result of clearing for fuelwood, charcoal, and logging, though poaching, wildlife trafficking, and hydroelectric projects have further degraded forest areas. Government officials have blamed deforestation for increased soil erosion, flooding, and periodic drought which has had an adverse impact on regional agriculture.

To slow the encroaching Sahara desert, Senegal announced in 2005 that it planned to promote a "Great Green Wall" of trees stretching for nearly 7,000 km (4,375 miles), from Dakar to Djibouti along the Sahel. Other African countries said they will participate in the massive reforestation project as well.

As of 2003, 11 percent of land in Senegal was under some form of protection. The country is exceptionally biodiverse for its size—Senegal is home to more than 2,100 plant species and over 1,000 animal species (192 mammals, 612 birds, 91 reptiles, 22 amphibians, and 150 species of freshwater fish).

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Suggested reading - Books

• Lonely Planet Gambia and Senegal
• Insight Guide Gambia & Senegal
• Senegal Map

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CIA-World Factbook Profile
FAO-Forestry Profile
World Resources Institute


Last updated: 4 Feb 2006