Our Projects · Disaster Risk Management & Ecosystem Restoration

Out of Earth and Rain

De terre et de pluie

Thirty farming families in Keur Maba Diakhou Ba combined trees, rainwater tanks and erosion control to bring degraded land back into production.

CompletedDisaster Risk Management & Ecosystem Restoration2019–2021

WhereSenegal, Kaolack region, commune of Keur Maba Diakhou Ba, about 200 km south-east of Dakar

When2019–2021

WithAPAF Senegal and EPFL

Rainfall≈ 686 mm a year in Senegalnational average, World Bank; local figure to add

Results

30family farms supported
30rainwater tanks of 5 m³
about15,000trees planted
3km of vegetated anti-erosion barriers

The Challenge

Of Senegal's 3.8 million hectares of arable land, about 2.8 million (66%) are severely degraded by unsuitable farming practices. Population growth and fast urbanisation add to the pressure on land. In Keur Maba Diakhou Ba, water erosion cuts deep gullies that threaten homes and fields. Plot-by-plot efforts often only move the problem elsewhere, so a shared, landscape-wide response was needed.

Rain in Senegal: about 686 mm a year, mostly June to October. Source: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (observed 1991–2020) and World Bank average precipitation.

What We Did

Ran a ten-day territorial diagnosis in July 2020 with the local agroforestry adviser and farmers: nearly 300 people interviewed and about 30 plots mapped.
Supported farmers to set up tree nurseries and agroforestry plots, with follow-up by APAF Senegal.
Trained masons and built 5 m³ rainwater tanks for participating family farms.
Installed vegetated anti-erosion barriers and a pilot demonstration plot.
Began a participatory survey of erosion hotspots in 2021 with the commune's environmental commission and residents, to agree on shared, landscape-wide solutions.

Results

30 family farms supported; 400 direct and about 1,280 indirect beneficiaries.
About 15,000 trees planted and 20–30 hectares of degraded land brought back into use for crops, wood and fodder.
30 rainwater tanks of 5 m³ and 3 km of vegetated anti-erosion barriers installed.
6 village nursery keepers, 3 masons and 1 agroforestry technical adviser trained.
The mid-term review in 2021 prepared the partnership with Caritas Kaolack that continued the work in the same area.