AN ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, NATIONAL LEGISLATION, JUDGEMENTS, AND INSTITUTIONS AS THEY INTERRELATE WITH TERRITORIES AND AREAS CONSERVED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES

The report analyzes the transition of natural resource management in Senegal from state-led repression to participatory governance. It highlights the emergence of Communal Natural Reserves (RNCs) and the persistence of sacred sites as effective conservation tools, while noting significant gaps in formal legal recognition and threats from globalization and state interference.

• Senegal has a dual system of forest management consisting of a Registered Domain (Domaine Classé) under state jurisdiction, covering approximately 35.7% of the country, and areas under the control of local authorities.
• The state's terrestrial protected area network includes 234 areas covering 7,135,617 hectares, comprising 209 forests, 10 reserves, 8 parks, and 7 game areas.
• Decentralization laws from 1996, specifically Law 96-06 and Law 96-07, enabled local authorities to create their own protected areas, leading to the establishment of approximately 33 Communal Natural Reserves (RNCs) covering about 758,880.42 hectares.
• Sacred natural sites, particularly prevalent in the Casamance region (with 81 identified sites in three departments), operate under informal governance by families or councils of elders and strictly prohibit the exploitation of biological resources.
• ICCAs in Senegal face several threats, including the imposition of state-appointed managers (Conservateurs), unsustainable development projects like large-scale tourism, and the loss of cultural values among youth due to globalization.
• While RNCs have legal recognition through decentralization laws, they are not formally integrated into the state's national network of protected areas, and sacred sites lack any formal legal backing, leaving them vulnerable to alienation.
• The report identifies a conflict between local community decisions and state administrative approval, citing the 2010 case where a Sub-Prefect refused to approve the resolution for the Dindefello RNC, though the decision became enforceable after 15 days per the Local Government Code.
• The authors recommend the formal recognition of all ICCAs in national legislation, including the Forest Law and the Law of Hunting and Wildlife Protection, and the creation of a National Network of ICCAs.

APA

Ndiawar, D., & Soulèye, N. (2012). AN ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, NATIONAL LEGISLATION, JUDGEMENTS, AND INSTITUTIONS AS THEY INTERRELATE WITH TERRITORIES AND AREAS CONSERVED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. Natural Justice. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Africa-Regional-Senegal.pdf

Chicago

Ndiawar, Dieng, and Ndiaye Soulèye. AN ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, NATIONAL LEGISLATION, JUDGEMENTS, AND INSTITUTIONS AS THEY INTERRELATE WITH TERRITORIES AND AREAS CONSERVED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. Natural Justice, 2012. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Africa-Regional-Senegal.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ndiawar |first1=Dieng |last2=Soulèye |first2=Ndiaye |title=AN ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, NATIONAL LEGISLATION, JUDGEMENTS, AND INSTITUTIONS AS THEY INTERRELATE WITH TERRITORIES AND AREAS CONSERVED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES |publisher=Natural Justice |date=September 2012 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Africa-Regional-Senegal.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ndiawar2012analysis, author = {Ndiawar, Dieng and Soulèye, Ndiaye}, title = {{AN ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, NATIONAL LEGISLATION, JUDGEMENTS, AND INSTITUTIONS AS THEY INTERRELATE WITH TERRITORIES AND AREAS CONSERVED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, year = {2012}, month = sep, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Africa-Regional-Senegal.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }