| dc.description.abstract | Senegal, like other coastal African countries, is home to some very important wetlands. These
wetlands regulate flooding and help to reduce water deficits during periods of drought, as is the
case in the Technopole reserve. In the Dakar region, the Technopole nature reserve plays a
crucial role in the ecological balance and is of considerable economic and environmental
importance.
This study examines the impact of climate variability and human activities on the degradation
of wetlands at Technopole. An analysis of precipitation, maximum temperature and evaporation
parameters was carried out alongside analyses of climatic indices, including flood and drought
risks (SPI analysis), and lake water levels. In addition, field surveys and land use studies (from
1993 to 2023) were carried out, along with water quality analyses to measure levels of
degradation.
Our studies indicate the influence of rainfall variability on the Technopole's lakes, leading to
drought scenarios from the 1970s onwards. These scenarios posed challenges in terms of water
renewal, fluctuating water levels, rising salinity levels and the risk of flooding in 2003 and 2013.
In addition, the land use results show human pressure on these wetlands through the conversion
of natural vegetation and bare land (304.59 Ha and 15.8 Ha, respectively) into buildings,
farmland and water bodies, with values of 133 Ha, 109.87 Ha and 77.88 Ha respectively
between 1993 and 2023. Agricultural and craft practices continue to pollute the environment
and water through the use of chemicals. Water analyses reveal high levels of salinity in the five
Technopole lakes and high levels of faecal coliforms in the two Maristes lakes, preventing the
normal development of marine flora and fauna.
These results were used in the study to propose a sustainable development plan. This plan
consists of concrete actions to combat the degradation and regression of the wetlands, such as
taking into account land pressure and implementing integrated management of the reserves
between political decision-makers and communities. | en_US |
