STABILIZATION OF SHIFTING DUNES AND AFFOR ESTATION ALONG THE NORTHERNCOAST OF SENEGAL USING THE FILAO (CASUARINA-EQUISETIFOLIA)

The northern coast of Senegal is the site of a conservation program wi th the objective of stabilizing shifting sand dunes in order to protec t adjacent agricultural fields against the detrimental effects of wind . Casuarina equisetifolia (''filao''), a nitrogen-fixing tree species indigenous to Oceania and southeast Asia, is the favored species for t hese dune stabilization efforts. Over the past 40 years, the total are a reforested with C. equisetifolia amounts to more than 9700 ha. Due t o its rapid growth, particularly in the inter-dune depressions, it is seen as a potential source of wood for the region. Additionally, refor estation efforts have also been directed towards the semi-fixed dunes (2380 ha) and the fixed dunes (4350 ha) lying further inland. Thus, de spite the severity of the climatic conditions of recent years, Senegal 's dune fixation program is clearly a success in respect to its initia l objectives and represents an important step forward in the fight aga inst desertification.