Wetlands International Revives 51 Hectares of Salt Land, 1600 of Mangroves

The Wetlands International West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea (WIACO), in collaboration with its partners, has successfully restored 51 hectares of salt land in Delta Saloum and a whopping 1,600 hectares of mangrove ecosystems across the country. This important revelation was made by Ibrahima Thiam, WIACO's Executive Director, during a press briefing ahead of World Mangrove Day celebrations. 
 
Mr. Thiam revealed that this significant achievement was accomplished through cooperation with the National Institute of Pedology (INP). The two organizations developed an innovative method for reclamation based on phosphogypsum and natural compost, which has proven effective in restoring and making suitable for agriculture 51 hectares of salty land spread across eight villages within the Saloum Delta. 
 
World Mangrove Day is celebrated every year on July 26th worldwide as an initiative by UNESCO to raise public awareness about the critical role played by mangrove ecosystems globally. It also aims at promoting conservation efforts for these vital habitats. 
 
Speaking further on their restoration process applied in eight villages, including Diossong, Djilor, Djirnda, and Toubacouta, located within the Saloum Delta along with Mbissel Valley commune Fimela, Mr. Thiam stated that they intend to expand this model to other areas where Wetlands International Africa operates. 
 
As for Senegal’s mangrove ecosystem preservation strategy, Mr. Thiam disclosed that they use a tool known as Global Mangrove Watch, a unique geographic information system designed explicitly for monitoring the world's mangroves' degradation as well as restoration actions taken over time. 
 
Through Global Mangrove Watch system analysis, it came to light that out of the total surface area covering around 65,000 ha dedicated to Senegal’s mangrove ecosystems, approximately 6,000 ha are degraded”, he noted while adding how successful they've been able to restore up to 1600 ha under a PRC project aimed at strengthening the resilience of mangrove-dependent communities in the Saloum Delta. 
 
Senegal's mangroves, mostly located in the lower valleys of the Senegal, Sine-Saloum, and Casamance rivers, are now recognized for their vital role in providing ecosystem services. 
 
WIACO is a non-governmental organization operating across Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia to tackle environmental challenges faced by these nations. It holds the distinction of being the largest nonprofit group dedicated to wetland conservation and restoration initiatives within Senegal. 
 
The significant achievements made by WIACO so far underscore its commitment to preserving essential ecosystems not just for the current generation but also future ones. The organization continues to demonstrate that collaboration between various stakeholders can yield tangible results when it comes to restoring degraded lands while ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.