Management of mangrove forests to improve food security and preserve the ecological balance of the Kalissaye wetland

The Kalissaye Wetland (30,000 ha), located in southern Senegal, in Casamance, is mainly made up of mangroves which host a remarkable biodiversity (green turtles (EN), manatees (VU), terns (LC), etc. ). The area has been on the list of RAMSAR sites since 2017 and is home to the Ornithological Reserve of Kalissaye (ROK), which has been classified since 1978. It is under the supervision of the Directorate of National Parks, itself attached to the Ministry in charge of Environment and Sustainable Development.

The local populations depend on the good state of this ecosystem, both for its role as a spawning ground, food and habitat for many species of fish, but also for the stabilization of the banks, the fight against marine flooding and the salinization of lands.

The increasing use of fish smoking by wood, especially with the neighboring port of Kafoutine, nevertheless strongly threatens this natural balance and therefore food security, already fragile in this landlocked area.