Senegal's environmental conditions result from the interaction between natural landscapes and human settlement. The country's nature includes six broad ecological zones, such as the Vallée du fleuve Sénégal, the Niayes, the Ferlo, Sénégal oriental and Casamance. These areas contain more than 2,000 recorded species and include national parks, reserves, marine protected areas, classified forests and sacred groves. Legal status and local management influence which activities, access rights and uses apply in each area. Farming, pastoralism, fishing, forestry, tourism and conservation often use the same landscapes. The everyday surroundings are shaped by residential areas, roads and other infrastructure, sanitation, water access, air quality, noise, public spaces and safety. Conditions differ sharply between Dakar, other urban areas, peri-urban districts and rural communities. National bodies, local authorities, public institutions, private service providers, neighbourhood groups and civil-society organisations share responsibilities, with their specific roles depending on the subject and location. Understanding an environmental issue therefore requires identifying both the affected place and the responsible institutions or local groups.
Environment in Senegal
The environment in Senegal includes both natural ecosystems and the surroundings in which people live, work and travel. Nature ranges from wetlands, dunes, savannas, mangroves and estuaries to protected marine and forest areas. Everyday surroundings include housing, infrastructure, sanitation, water, air, noise, public spaces, safety and spatial change.
Tip
Assess environmental conditions in Senegal for the specific place and activity rather than relying on a general impression of the country. Separate impacts on natural ecosystems from problems in everyday surroundings, then identify the responsible actors and weigh access, services, livelihoods and conservation needs together.