The facts: Agriculture
and natural resources management

Since January 2003, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has sought to improve lives and protect resources in southeastern Senegal in a new, unique program promoting conservation, poverty reduction and good governance (nature, wealth, and power). USAID assists local people in increasing their profits from natural products found in their local forests and farmland. To ensure that these natural products are not overly exploited, local government officials receive training to help them assume their responsibility for natural resource management.

Combining conservation and commercial interests
The five-year, $12 million USAID program, which is known locally as Wula Nafaa or "benefits from the bush" in local languages, promotes the sustainable use of non-traditional agriculture and natural products. USAID encourages profitable joint ventures between rural communities and private enterprises to market natural products (such as baobab fruit, bamboo, and shea butter) and to cultivate and/or process non-traditional agricultural products (such as cashews, sesame, a local cereal known as fonio, hibiscus, and mango) for local and national consumption and export markets.

Encouraging responsible use of forests and farmland
Helping ensure good governance, public dialogue through roundtable discussions and workshops at local, regional, and national levels raises awareness of sustainable agriculture and natural products, and 20 communities are receiving assistance in implementing natural resources management plans. USAID assistance has provided 22 local governments and over 100 local enterprises with the skills and approaches that allow them to exploit these resources in ways that increase economic opportunity and protect the environment. USAID partners are also helping develop management plans for community forests and forest reserves covering more than 100,000 hectares.

Partners
The Ag/NRM program is a partnership between USAID/Senegal and the Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection and is being implemented by the International Resources Group.