Coming back to a Commons approach to construct the Great Green Wall in Senegal

Since the 1970s, Sahel region has been struck by severe droughts that brought suffering to human populations. Scientists also observed declining rainfall leading desertification in zone. Against this backdrop, 2007, several African states launched international Great Green Wall (GGW) project aimed create a strip of forest from Senegal Djibouti, crossing areas mostly devoted pastoralism. We examined social, land tenure and environmental implications GGW Senegal, light policies for pastoral intensification The colonial heritage foresters Senegalese National Agency who implement on ground influences how reforestation is managed today. To understand local populations relate space affected their resources, we organized participatory workshops four contrasted study sites along portion path. Our results show trees are great importance populations, whether agricultural or pastoral, but even more so areas. Despite this, national narrative considers Sahelian pastoralism overgrazing as strong drivers desertification. paradox linked public policy boreholes densification. Taking Commons approach, current past role played water pasture management, accessed no longer regulates grazing practices. A approach would pave way assisting stakeholders at different levels favor regreening Sahel.