During a field visit to the department of Saint-Louis, the Minister of the Environment and Ecological Transition, Dr. Abdourahman Diouf, reaffirmed the government's strong commitment to preserving biodiversity and accelerating the ecological transition. This immersion in several emblematic ecological sites in the region highlighted the efforts undertaken in ecosystem restoration, combating climate change, and promoting sustainable development for the benefit of local communities.

During this two-day tour, the minister visited the Bango tree nursery, the Guembeul Special Wildlife Reserve, the Mpal Classified Forest, and the Langue de Barbarie National Park. Four sites, four major issues, which, according to him, summarize the challenges at the heart of his department's work.

At the Guembeul reserve, Dr. Abdourahman Diouf stressed the urgent need to strengthen the conservation of rare species. "We left this visit convinced that we must intensify the repopulation of certain species and better protect those that already exist, which are sometimes found only in Senegal or in rare regions of the world," he said.

The minister thus stressed the need to further secure this protected area and to consider, if possible, the introduction of new species to strengthen biodiversity.

The visit continued at the Bango tree nursery, where the minister praised the "discreet but essential" work of the staff. According to him, these facilities play a fundamental role in landscaping and reforestation throughout the country. "Our nurseries allow us to re-green our cities, villages, and regions. They must be given more support to meet the vegetation needs across Senegal," he argued.

At the Langue de Barbarie, Dr. Abdourahman Diouf witnessed one of the country's major environmental emergencies: coastal erosion. This problem threatens not only ecosystems, but also homes and local economic activities. "This trip clearly shows us that there are emergencies and that the government must act quickly to address this situation," he acknowledged.

At the Mpal classified forest, the minister expressed his satisfaction with the progress observed in forest regeneration. Thanks to the established buffer zones, the ten fenced hectares are already showing encouraging signs of natural restoration after just one year. "This proves that if we have the will, we have the capacity to regenerate our forests almost everywhere," he stated.

For Dr. Abdourahman Diouf, the major challenge now is to find the right balance between nature conservation and economic development. “We must preserve our natural resources, our fauna and flora, while taking into account the interests of communities through sustainable use and development,” he explained. He expressed confidence in Senegal’s ability to meet this challenge.

According to him, this balance will not only ensure the long-term protection of forests, biodiversity, and the coastline, but also foster the development of a genuine economic hub around ecotourism. "This will help Senegal reach international standards and attract numerous project developers, so that communities living around these areas can improve their living conditions," the minister concluded.