LARGE-SCALE SOWING WITH SPECIALLY ADAPTED SEEDBALLS
Alarming facts
Desertification in Senegal is a major environmental problem affecting large areas of the country. The phenomenon is the result of a complex interaction between natural factors such as irregular rainfall, prolonged drought and strong winds, and human activities such as deforestation, overuse of agricultural land and overgrazing.
DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES
Desertification has many serious consequences. Productive agricultural land is transformed into barren, arid zones, leading to reduced food production and the loss of livelihoods for many rural communities. Limited access to drinking water is also becoming a major challenge, as water sources dwindle.
WE BELIEVE!
Our Seedballs are designed to offer the best chances of germination for the seeds they contain. We base our work on university studies on the subject of optimizing seeds in Sahelian environments. Components include charcoal, potting soil, sand, natural fertilizers and even repellents such as chilli pepper, to protect the seeds from granivores.
WHY SOW AND NOT REPLANT?
The stress caused to a shoot replanted in an arid zone is immense. Soil adaptation and temperature change are among the causes requiring human intervention, particularly for watering. By choosing to sow on a large scale, the seeds germinate directly in the living environment of the future tree. The young shoot will then be able to find the best techniques for adapting to the environment in which it was born.
SEEDBALLS SENEGAL is proud to benefit from a strong partnership with the National Forest Seed Program (PRONASEF), our main supplier of tree seeds. Researchers from this institute provide us with invaluable advice on the selection of appropriate seed varieties for each drop zone. Their informed expertise enables us to implement truly effective actions for biodiversity conservation.
OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH SENEGALESE SCIENTISTS
WHY TREES?
Trees act as natural windbreaks, reducing the impact of the violent winds and sandstorms that are common in the Sahelian zone. They protect crops and homes from wind erosion and stabilize dunes.
Sahelian trees produce fruit, leaves and other edible parts. The fruit of the baobab, for example, is rich in nutrients and an important source of vitamins and minerals for local communities and many animals. Acacia leaves are also eaten as a source of protein.
The shade of the tree, its roots and the organic waste it generates help the soil retain its moisture and encourage the creation of a herbaceous layer, the disappearance of which is a crying sign of desertification.
Trees in the Sahelian zone are much more than just components of the landscape. They are essential to the survival of local communities, the preservation of the environment and resilience in the face of climatic challenges.
DID YOU KNOW? Trees play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, an essential process in the fight against climate change. When trees photosynthesize, they absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and convert it into biomass, thereby storing carbon.
