PROTOCOLE COMMUNAUTAIRE BIOCULTUREL DE LA COMMUNAUTE DE NIAFRANG

The Biocultural Community Protocol (PCB) of Niafrang, Senegal, is a community-led guide designed to protect the village's natural resources, traditional knowledge, and genetic heritage. It establishes governance principles for the sustainable use of biodiversity and serves as a tool for advocacy against zircon mining and land grabbing, while harmonizing customary laws with national and international legal frameworks.

• The village of Niafrang is located within the Abéné Marine Protected Area (AMP), established by presidential decree in 2004 to conserve marine and coastal biodiversity and improve fishing yields.
• A significant threat to the local ecosystem is the proposed exploitation of zircon on a 6 km mineralized dune. This dune acts as a critical hydraulic barrier protecting rice fields from saltwater intrusion and wind erosion.
• The community identifies several species as culturally protected; the parrot is the village totem, and killing it is believed to cause the death of children. Killing cobra snakes is also forbidden due to beliefs that it causes miscarriages and stillbirths.
• The local economy relies heavily on the exploitation of the palm tree for oil and wine, as well as the harvesting of 'madd' (Saba senegalensis) and 'nététou' (néré).
• Traditional medicine is the primary healthcare resource for the community, utilizing various plants such as Tamba Ndoun for stomach ailments and Sindian for hypertension and diabetes.
• The community employs a traditional seed bank system for rice, selecting the best seeds after each harvest to maintain genetic characteristics and ensure food security.
• Governance in Niafrang is based on consensus, with the village chief serving as the central authority and guardian of customary norms.
• The village maintains specific traditional institutions, including separate 'sacred woods' for men and women, which serve as sites for transferring local knowledge and performing rituals.
• The community has established a 'Committee to Fight Zircon' to mobilize and advocate for their economic, social, and environmental rights against mining concessions.

APA

Natural Justice (2024). PROTOCOLE COMMUNAUTAIRE BIOCULTUREL DE LA COMMUNAUTE DE NIAFRANG. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Protocole-Communautaire-Bioculturel-de-Niafrang.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. PROTOCOLE COMMUNAUTAIRE BIOCULTUREL DE LA COMMUNAUTE DE NIAFRANG. 2024. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Protocole-Communautaire-Bioculturel-de-Niafrang.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=PROTOCOLE COMMUNAUTAIRE BIOCULTUREL DE LA COMMUNAUTE DE NIAFRANG |date=March 2024 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Protocole-Communautaire-Bioculturel-de-Niafrang.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljustice2024protocole, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{PROTOCOLE COMMUNAUTAIRE BIOCULTUREL DE LA COMMUNAUTE DE NIAFRANG}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Protocole-Communautaire-Bioculturel-de-Niafrang.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }