Senegal

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Sub-Saharan AfricaApplies 2026–2030Source: Stratégie nationale et Plan d'Actions pour la Biodiversité 2026–2030

Stratégie nationale et Plan d'Actions pour la Biodiversité 2026–2030 (SPANB 2026–2030)

Translated from French

1. Overview

Senegal's Stratégie nationale et Plan d'Actions pour la Biodiversité 2026–2030 (SPANB 2026–2030) is the country's current instrument for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at the national level. Prepared under the authority of the Ministry of the Environment and Ecological Transition, the document positions itself as "a genuine national pact for resilience and sovereignty" [§40].

The SPANB defines twenty-three national commitments* aligned one-to-one with the 23 GBF Targets — a deliberate structural choice reflecting the strategy's self-positioning as a GBF implementation instrument [§34]. The commitments are organised under four strategic axes† and four intervention mechanisms: protection and restoration of natural capital (national commitments 1–3); management of human and climate-related threats (national commitments 4, 6–8, 17); sustainable use (national commitments 5, 9–12, 14); and social equity, governance, and innovative financing (national commitments 13, 15, 18–23) [§34]. No standalone national commitment for GBF Target 16 (sustainable consumption) exists in the SPANB; the strategy addresses this area through cross-cutting principles and the National Development Strategy.

The SPANB covers the period 2026–2030, building on an evaluation of the preceding 2015–2025 National Strategy and Action Plan. Its scope encompasses terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems across Senegal's national territory and 198,000 km² maritime space. Three priority areas are named explicitly: restoration of Casamance mangroves, rehabilitation of Groundnut Basin soils, and protection of fishery resources [§40].

*Senegal's SPANB calls these cibles prioritaires (priority targets), numbered 1–23 to correspond directly to the 23 GBF Targets. This page uses "national commitment" to avoid confusion with the GBF Targets themselves. The numbering reflects an editorial choice by the SPANB authors to signal explicit GBF alignment; "national commitment 3" is Senegal's own pledge, not the GBF text.

†Senegal's four strategic axes organise the SPANB thematically and are distinct from the GBF's four long-term Goals A–D.

Senegal's SPANB 2026–2030 organises 23 national commitments around eight territorial hubs drawn from the Senegal 2050 national transformation agenda, applying distinct ecological diagnostics and spatial planning orientations across the country. The strategy's sole measurable commitment targets 30% protected area coverage including marine and coastal zones — Senegal already exceeds 30% terrestrially, but marine coverage stands at 4.9%, making the marine and coastal dimension the central challenge. A sovereign financing architecture — including green bonds already launched and a proposed Trust Fund for Protected Areas — frames resource mobilisation as a matter of national autonomy rather than aid dependence.

Sources:

  • §34 — Part III > Strategic Framework > 2.6. Operational objectives: Targets and priority actions
  • §40 — Conclusion

2. Ecological Context

Senegal occupies a climatic gradient from Sahelian steppes in the north to dry dense forests and gallery forests in the south, containing approximately 4,330 animal species and 3,645 plant species across four major ecosystem types: steppes (approximately 3,553,787 ha), savannah, forest (2,290,000 ha), and fluvial and coastal systems [§8][§9][§10]. The 700 km Atlantic coastline and 198,000 km² maritime space encompass coastal wetlands, deltaic and estuarine zones, seagrass beds, and 17 consolidated Marine Protected Areas [§8]. The country holds 32 endemic plant species; marine invertebrates remain "very poorly inventoried" [§9][§10].

Ecological character is shaped by two flagship complexes. The Saloum Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, forms a unique estuarine network of mangrove forests and bolongs where nearly 44% of fish species reproduce or begin sexual maturation, and hosts the most characteristic population of royal terns (Thalasseus maximus) globally — 20,000 nests annually [§17]. Niokolo-Koba National Park (913,000 ha), the largest in West Africa, harbours lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, Derby eland, hippopotamus, chimpanzee, and African wild dog alongside nearly 1,500 plant species; it was removed from the World Heritage in Danger list in July 2024 [§17][§44].

Four pressures converge across the national territory. Urbanisation fragments remaining habitats — in Dakar, terrestrial wildlife is described as "in critical decline," with green monkeys, civets, and reptiles confined to forest remnants at Mbao and Noflaye [§17][§24]. Dams on the Senegal River have "profoundly altered the river's flow regime," generating invasive plant proliferation, dried areas, and chemical pollution across the northern delta [§24]. Gold mining — industrial and artisanal — along the Falémé causes mercury and cyanide contamination, deforestation, and sand encroachment [§24]. Trafficking of African rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus) has intensified, and wildlife migration corridors between the Ferlo, Niokolo-Koba, and the Falémé hunting zone are severed [§24].

Climate pressures include bush fires affecting 300,000–700,000 ha per year, coastal erosion of 1–2 metres per year, and salinisation of more than 1,000,000 hectares [§24]. The primary sector — dependent essentially on environmental goods and services — contributes 17.6% to GDP; fisheries landings reached 490,438 tonnes in 2020, valued at 218.2 billion FCFA [§44].

Sources:

  • §8 — General Introduction > Physical, human and socio-economic framework > Ecosystem diversity
  • §9 — General Introduction > Physical, human and socio-economic framework > Animal species
  • §10 — General Introduction > Physical, human and socio-economic framework > Plant species
  • §17 — Main Ecosystems and Areas of Importance for Biodiversity in the Territorial Poles
  • §24 — Major Causes of Biodiversity Loss in the Territorial Hubs
  • §44 — Logical Framework Matrix (Results Framework) (part 3/4)

Biodiversity Through a Territorial Lens: Senegal's Eight Hub Framework

The SPANB inherits its spatial architecture from the Senegal 2050 national transformation agenda, organising every ecological diagnostic, threat assessment, and planning orientation around eight Territorial Hubs [§17]. This wholesale integration of biodiversity strategy into a national economic transformation framework's regional units is a structural choice that runs through the action portfolio for national commitments 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 12. Hub-specific planning orientations are the mechanism through which abstract national commitments become geographically differentiated action.

The eight Hubs and their ecological character:

  • Dakar Hub — Dense urban pole (550 km², >25% of the national population at ~7,200 inhabitants/km²) containing forest remnants, Niayes coastal wetlands designated as Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, and the Îles de la Madeleine National Park; last refuges for green monkeys, civets, and reptiles confined to forest patches at Mbao and Noflaye [§17].
  • Thiès Hub — Transition zone facing classified forest declassification (7.6% of blocks) and zircon mining pressure along the Grande Côte [§24].
  • Centre Hub — Agricultural heartland including the Groundnut Basin, characterised by salinised and degraded soils requiring active landscape restoration and rehabilitation [§17].
  • Diourbel-Louga Hub — Semi-arid rangeland under pressure from invasive Diodia scandens competing with local fodder species [§24].
  • North Hub — Senegal River delta, hydrologically modified by the Manantali and Diama dams, harbouring invasive plant proliferation (Typha, Prosopis, Eichhornia); coastal waters contain three IUCN Red Listed hammerhead shark species [§17][§24].
  • North-East Hub — Sahelian Ferlo zone anchored by Niokolo-Koba National Park and gallery forest corridors; gold mining pressure along the Falémé [§24].
  • South-East Hub — Transition to the Sudano-Guinean domain, with elephant, chimpanzee, Derby eland, and African wild dog populations; gallery forests under logging pressure; wildlife corridors severed [§17][§24].
  • South Hub — Casamance and Sine-Saloum, characterised by dense forests, mangroves, and an active community-based restoration dynamic; focal area for mangrove restoration and future carbon credit valorisation [§17][§36].

The SPANB applies Hub-specific orientations to translate national commitments into action: spatial planning tools (national commitment 1) are calibrated Hub by Hub; restoration priorities (national commitment 2) specify distinct ecosystem types per Hub; species conservation plans (national commitment 4) name Hub-specific fauna. A reader encountering recurring Hub references throughout the action portfolio will find the structural rationale here.

Sources:

  • §17 — Main Ecosystems and Areas of Importance for Biodiversity in the Territorial Poles
  • §24 — Major Causes of Biodiversity Loss in the Territorial Hubs
  • §36 — Part IV > 2. Resource mobilisation strategy

3. National Commitments and GBF Alignment

Senegal defines twenty-three national commitments organised under four intervention mechanisms. One national commitment is measurable; twenty-two are directional aspirations. No national commitments are classified as interim commitments.

Protection and Restoration of Natural Capital (National Commitments 1–3)

National commitment 1 — Spatial planning The SPANB commits to incorporating biodiversity into territorial planning tools and extending the classified domain in order to reduce ecosystem losses, safeguard habitat integrity, and strengthen ecological connectivity [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 1. Instruments include the Urban Planning Code (Law No. 2023-20), the Construction Code (Law No. 2023-21), the National Development Strategy (SND 2025–2029), and Hub-specific Master Development Plans (PDU). Priority actions include securing land tenure through classification and incorporating biological corridors into PDUs across all eight Territorial Hubs. Indicators include area of land classified and number of planning instruments integrating biodiversity. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 2 — Ecosystem restoration The SPANB commits to restoring mangroves, degraded land, salinised soils, and forests [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 2. More than 80 million mangrove trees have been planted in Casamance and Sine-Saloum — presented as baseline evidence of an existing community-driven restoration dynamic on which the SPANB builds, not a new pledge. Instruments include the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0, 2025–2034), Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), the Great Green Wall (119,000 ha reforested; 18 million seedlings produced), and nature-based solutions for coastal erosion. Indicators include area treated and coastal length treated. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 3 — Protected areas (30×30) The SPANB sets a target to increase total protected area coverage to 30% of national territory, including marine and coastal zones [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 3. This is the sole measurable commitment in the SPANB. Senegal reports approximately 36% of national territory already under protection — a figure representing primarily terrestrial coverage. Marine Protected Area coverage stands at 4.9%, up from 0.72% in 2012; the national commitment is driven by the marine and coastal dimension. The NBSAP does not specify a quantified marine-only sub-target. A proposed Trust Fund for Protected Areas would provide dedicated autonomous financing (see A Sovereignty Financing Model below). Indicators include number of new sites classified and area of new protected zones. Measurable commitment.

Management of Human and Climate-Related Threats (National Commitments 4, 6–8, 17)

National commitment 4 — Species recovery The SPANB commits to reducing species extinction risks, protecting genetic diversity, and managing human-wildlife conflicts [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 4. Named species for targeted conservation include elephants, chimpanzees, lions, African wild dogs, Derby elands, manatees, sea turtles, and vultures. Successful reintroductions of the Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah), Dorcas Gazelle, and Dama Mhorr Gazelle at the Guembeul Special Wildlife Reserve are cited. The NBSAP explicitly flags genetic pollution from foreign breed introductions as a threat to Senegal's 10 bovine, 8 ovine, 5 caprine, and 8 equine local breeds. Instruments include a national gene bank, epidemiological surveillance under a One Health approach, and biological rest periods. Indicators include number of species with active recovery plans. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 6 — Invasive alien species The SPANB commits to reducing the risk of introduction and spread of invasive alien species [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 6. Two priority actions are specified: invasive species monitoring (indicator: area treated) and capacity building of the Defence and Security Forces on biological border control (indicator: number of agents trained). This governance assignment places biosecurity within a national security architecture, a distinctive institutional arrangement. Documented invasives include Typha domingensis, Prosopis juliflora, Eichhornia crassipes, Salvinia, and Mimosa pigra. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 7 — Pollution reduction The SPANB commits to reducing pollution-related risks and impacts on biodiversity [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 7. Six priority actions are specified: monitoring of Installations Classified for Environmental Protection (ICPE), wastewater monitoring, revision and enforcement of plastics legislation (Law No. 2020-04), development of the circular economy through recycling, integrated management of agricultural chemicals via an inter-ministerial committee, and nature-based solutions against coastal erosion. The Environment Code (Law No. 2023-15) strengthens the polluter pays principle; monitoring of classified installations has already recovered 3.4 billion FCFA in pollution prevention (see A Sovereignty Financing Model). Directional aspiration.

National commitment 8 — Climate and biodiversity The SPANB commits to strengthening ecosystem resilience to the effects of climate change [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 8. Explicitly linked to the NDC 3.0 (2025–2034). Priority actions are reforestation and area enclosure, bush fire control (baseline: 300,000–700,000 ha/year affected), and protection of urban and peri-urban wetlands. The WENDOU Platform and CROP Service provide real-time environmental monitoring for adaptive management. The energy mix is approximately 40% renewables. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 17 — Biosafety The SPANB commits to strengthening national capacities in biotechnological safety [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 17. Grounded in the Biosafety Law (Law No. 2022-20) and the precautionary principle applied specifically to biotechnologies. This is the most action-specific directional aspiration among the 23 commitments: two institutional deliverables are named with concrete indicators — operationalise the National Biosafety Committee and its regulatory framework (indicator: number of cases processed) and operationalise the national reference laboratory for GMO control (indicator: number of samples analysed). Directional aspiration.

Sustainable Use (National Commitments 5, 9–12, 14)

National commitment 5 — Sustainable harvest The SPANB commits to ensuring safe, legal, and sustainable trade in and harvesting of wild species [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 5. Priority actions include management of forest massifs, organisation of timber harvesting campaigns with compensatory reforestation requirements, monitoring of non-timber forest product harvesting via transport permits (for traceability), and artisanal fisheries management through biological rest periods. Specific threats addressed include illegal trafficking of African rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus), overfishing with small-mesh nets, and unregulated charcoal production. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 9 — Wild species use The SPANB commits to promoting sustainable management and use of wild species [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 9. Instruments include hunting management by quota system (DEFCCS), reforestation of forest fruit trees including baobab, madd (Saba senegalensis), and shea (Vitellaria paradoxa), wildlife farming (indicator: number of private farms created or supported), and development of ecotourism circuits (indicator: tourism revenues). Directional aspiration.

National commitment 10 — Agriculture and forestry The SPANB commits to adopting sustainable practices in agrosilvopastoral, mining, and fisheries operations [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 10. The agroecological transition is operationalised through the FACIE (Fermes Agro-écologiques Communautaires Intégrées — integrated community agroecological farms) instrument (indicator: number of FACIE created). Approximately 40% of agricultural holdings already practise agroforestry. Artisanal fishing in MPAs is to be governed by local codes of conduct. Mining actions include ESMP monitoring and biodiversity criteria in corporate CSR. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 11 — Ecosystem services The SPANB commits to strengthening ecosystem goods and services for the benefit of communities [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 11. Priority actions include community micro-projects focused on specific services — bee colonies, oyster colonies, bird colonies, restored habitats, and fruit and fodder availability — as enumerated outputs. The Dakar lakes generate 2.6 billion FCFA per year in ecosystem services for over 1,100 users, cited as a valuation baseline (full treatment in Section 7, Target 11). Directional aspiration.

National commitment 12 — Urban biodiversity The SPANB commits to integrating biodiversity into urban and peri-urban planning [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 12. A 200 km casuarina reforestation belt from Dakar to Saint-Louis is identified as critical urban-adjacent infrastructure under threat from illegal occupation. Instruments include the Urban Planning Code (2023) and Construction Code (2023). Priority actions are reforestation of urban green spaces and integration of trees into urbanisation plans. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 14 — Mainstreaming The SPANB commits to integrating biodiversity into eight named sectors: agriculture, livestock, fisheries, tourism, urban planning, mining, transport, and energy [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 14. The results framework introduces an investment screening criterion: percentage of new high-ecological-footprint projects authorised in areas of biodiversity conservation interest (parks, reserves, classified forests, MPAs, wetlands, beaches, offshore zones). Training modules on biodiversity mainstreaming will be delivered at both ministerial and decentralised levels. Directional aspiration.

Governance, Finance, and Equity (National Commitments 13, 15, 18–23)

National commitment 13 — Genetic resources / ABS The SPANB commits to establishing a national legislative and regulatory framework on access and benefit-sharing, digital sequence information (DSI), and traditional knowledge [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 13. Senegal is party to the Nagoya Protocol. ABS is framed as a sovereignty instrument and a lever for mobilising financial resources. Priority actions include adoption of ABS texts (indicator: number of State-user agreements) and protection of traditional knowledge (indicator: number of access rules established). DSI is explicitly referenced in the national target text. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 15 — Business disclosure The SPANB commits to promoting integration of biodiversity into company and financial institution decision-making [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 15. Instruments include CSR requirements under the polluter pays principle, the Green Taxonomy of Senegal (under development) to direct financing toward high-impact environmental projects, and PPP models for national parks and nature reserves. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 18 — Harmful subsidies The SPANB commits to reducing subsidies harmful to biodiversity conservation [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 18. Priority action is promotion of green taxation (indicator: number of companies benefiting from duty reductions). A carbon tax project targeting oil and gas sector companies is under development. Green taxation is framed as both an incentive mechanism and a penalty instrument. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 19 — Finance mobilisation The SPANB commits to mobilising financial, technical, and human resources for implementation [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 19. Strategic Axis 4 is dedicated to innovative financing; the financing architecture is detailed in the dedicated section below. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 20 — Capacity and technology The SPANB commits to strengthening national capacities and technology infrastructure [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 20. Training programmes address biodiversity mainstreaming in sectoral policy, green financial engineering for GBFF and climate fund eligibility, and ecological valorisation models (ecotourism, wildlife farming, beekeeping, organic agriculture, oyster farming). A national biodiversity monitoring platform is planned, interconnectable with sub-regional systems. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 21 — Data and information The SPANB commits to strengthening national biodiversity data systems through community-involved mechanisms [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 21. Priority actions are implementation of the UN Framework for the Development of Environmental Statistics (FDES 2013) and integration of nature into national accounting. Eco-guards, village committees, and CBOs serve as frontline data collectors. The UN SEEA Biodiversity Framework has not yet been deployed in Senegal. A mid-term review is scheduled for 2028. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 22 — Inclusive participation The SPANB formally reformulates GBF Target 22, replacing its framing on indigenous participation with: "Territorialise biodiversity protection through inclusive governance that respects community rights and guarantees the equitable participation of women and young people" [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 22. This reformulation is a deliberate editorial choice signalling a shift toward decentralised, rights-based governance framing. Instruments include Community Nature Reserves (RNC), Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (APAC), and planned Territorial Biodiversity Committees at regional and departmental levels. CBOs constitute 52% of environmental stakeholders nationally. Directional aspiration.

National commitment 23 — Gender equality The SPANB commits to ensuring gender equality in biodiversity policy implementation [§34]. Aligned with GBF Target 23. The results framework cites a specific baseline inequality: women carry approximately 60% of forest restoration efforts but hold access to less than 8% of land rights — identified as a factor limiting the impact of their contribution. Priority actions address both economic empowerment (income-generating activities for women in ecosystem restoration) and institutional representation (women in biodiversity decision-making bodies). Directional aspiration.

Note on GBF Target 16: Senegal treats sustainable consumption through cross-cutting principles, the NDS 2025–2029 outcome of "adoption of sustainable consumption practices," and education and behavioural change programmes. No standalone national commitment 16 or dedicated results framework entry exists in the SPANB.

Sources:

  • §20 — 1.1.3. Legal framework
  • §34 — Part III > Strategic Framework > 2.6. Operational objectives: Targets and priority actions
  • §42 — Logical Framework Matrix (Results Framework) (part 1/4)
  • §43 — Logical Framework Matrix (Results Framework) (part 2/4)

4. Delivery Architecture

Legislation

Biodiversity management rests on a recently modernised legislative framework [§20]:

  • Environment Code (Law No. 2023-15 of 2 August 2023) — primary environmental statute, strengthening the polluter pays principle through revalued pollution taxes on classified installations
  • Biosafety Law (Law No. 2022-20 of 14 June 2022) — governs GMOs and biotechnology regulation; establishes the National Biosafety Authority
  • Forestry Code (Law No. 2018-25 of 12 November 2018)
  • Urban Planning Code (Law No. 2023-20 of 29 December 2023) and Construction Code (Law No. 2023-21 of 29 December 2023)
  • Pastoral Code (Law No. 2023-19 of 27 December 2023)
  • Law on the prevention and reduction of the impact of plastic products (Law No. 2020-04 of 8 January 2020)

The NBSAP acknowledges "poor harmonisation of this entire body of law," characterised by "a lack of coherence, synergy and effectiveness" [§20]. The Agro-Sylvo-Pastoral Orientation Law (No. 2004-16) and the Hunting and Wildlife Protection Code (No. 86-04) are both under revision.

Institutional arrangements

Implementation is anchored in three directorates of the Ministry of the Environment and Ecological Transition: the Directorate of National Parks (DPN) — managing six national parks and five reserves and serving as CBD focal point; the Directorate of Water, Forests, Hunting and Soil Conservation (DEFCCS) — administering classified forests covering more than 2 million hectares; and the Directorate of Community Marine Protected Areas (DAMCP) — managing 17 MPAs totalling more than 400,000 hectares under shared governance with local communities [§18]. Cross-sectoral coordination is facilitated by the National Biodiversity Committee, the National Biosafety Authority (ANB), the National Commission for Sustainable Development (CNDD), and the National Climate Change Committee (COMNACC) [§18].

Named instruments and programmes

  • FACIE (Fermes Agro-écologiques Communautaires Intégrées) — the operational instrument for the agroecological transition under national commitment 10
  • WENDOU Platform — environmental monitoring infrastructure for real-time climate and biodiversity risk management [§39]
  • National reference laboratory for GMO control — to be operationalised under the Biosafety Law
  • National gene bank — for plant genetic resources, supporting genetic diversity conservation
  • Community Nature Reserves (RNC) and Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (APAC) — community governance mechanisms within the protected area network
  • Great Green Wall — reforestation instrument that has treated 80,000 hectares and produced 18 million seedlings [§44]
  • NDC 3.0 (2025–2034) — Nationally Determined Contribution integrating biodiversity, reforestation, and Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration across scenarios

Sources:

  • §18 — 1.1.1. National institutional framework
  • §20 — 1.1.3. Legal framework
  • §35 — Part IV > 1. Implementation framework
  • §39 — Part IV > 5. Risk management
  • §44 — Logical Framework Matrix (Results Framework) (part 3/4)

A Sovereignty Financing Model: Innovative Instruments and the Case for Autonomy

The SPANB frames financing autonomy as a matter of national sovereignty, not simply resource mobilisation [§36]. Senegal describes itself as "a regional pioneer in innovative financing, through the launch of the first green bonds and the proposal of a high-performing ecological taxation system" [§21]. The NBSAP notes that Africa's biodiversity financing deficit is estimated at 700 billion dollars per year [§4] — a figure cited to justify building domestic and innovative mechanisms that reduce dependence on external aid, identified in the SWOT analysis as a structural weakness [§25].

Domestic public instruments. Senegal prepares, executes, and monitors an annual green budget structured around climate action and nature protection [§36]. The polluter pays principle, strengthened under the Environment Code (Law No. 2023-15), requires companies operating classified installations to finance waste management and invest in ecosystem restoration. Monitoring of these installations has already recovered 3.4 billion FCFA in pollution prevention [§21]. A carbon tax project is under development targeting companies with large ecological footprints, "particularly those in the oil and gas sector" [§36].

Innovative domestic instruments. The Green Taxonomy of Senegal is under development as a sustainable finance instrument to direct financing toward projects with high environmental and social impact [§36]. The Trust Fund for Protected Areas — described as "a structuring instrument designed to guarantee sustainable, stable and autonomous financing for national parks, nature reserves, classified forests and marine protected areas" — is proposed to pool public and private contributions and strengthen the leverage effect of international financing [§36]. The NBSAP characterises this fund as "a major strategic advance." Green bonds, already launched as the first in the region, are an operational instrument.

International and carbon market instruments. Future instruments identified include carbon credits valorising the mangroves of Casamance and the Sine-Saloum and the forests of the South and South-East, debt-for-nature-and-climate swaps, enhanced environmental Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR+), and additional green bonds [§36]. Access to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), the Green Fund, and climate finance is supported by planned training in green financial engineering.

Private sector engagement. The NBSAP identifies private sector participation as underdeveloped — the SWOT notes "low involvement of businesses in biodiversity financing and PPPs underdeveloped for the valorisation of biological resources" [§25]. To address this, a reorientation of economic models through public-private partnerships in protected area valorisation is underway, with CSR funds to be directed toward ecological restoration and protected area management [§36].

Operational vs. under development: The annual green budget, polluter pays mechanism (3.4 billion FCFA recovered), and first green bonds are operational. The Green Taxonomy, Trust Fund for Protected Areas, carbon tax for oil and gas, and carbon credit mechanisms are under development.

Sources:

  • §4 — General Introduction
  • §21 — 1.2.1. Assessment of the NBSAP 2015–2025 > Strongly improving performance
  • §25 — 2.2. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
  • §36 — Part IV > 2. Resource mobilisation strategy
  • §40 — Conclusion

5. Monitoring and Accountability

Governance structure

Oversight of SPANB implementation rests with the National Biodiversity Committee, placed under the supervision of the Ministry of the Environment and Ecological Transition and governed by ministerial decree [§37]. The committee brings together key ministerial departments (Urban Planning, Industry, Mining, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Economy, Finance), Territorial Authorities, the National Assembly, training and research institutions, the private sector, civil society, and development partners [§37].

The Directorate of National Parks (DPN) serves as CBD focal point and coordinates technical monitoring through an intersectoral committee responsible for planning, consolidating field knowledge, and tracking indicators [§37]. Deconcentrated services implement actions under the coordination of Governors and Prefects at the territorial level [§37]. Territorial Biodiversity Committees are envisaged to strengthen intersectoral coordination and local stakeholder participation at regional and departmental levels — each committee to bring together territorial authorities, technical services, community organisations, private sector, and civil society [§37].

Reporting and review

Reporting is coordinated by the DPN through periodic national reports in accordance with KMGBF requirements [§37]. A mid-term review is scheduled for 2028 as a prelude to the final evaluation of the 2030 Strategic Plan.

Monitoring framework

The M&E mechanism operates at three complementary levels: strategic (National Biodiversity Committee), technical (DPN and intersectoral committee), and territorial (deconcentrated services and Territorial Biodiversity Committees) [§37]. A participatory monitoring mechanism directly involves eco-guards, village committees, and Community-Based Organisations as frontline data collectors and alert systems [§37].

The technology architecture includes a national biodiversity monitoring platform to serve as an interactive dashboard interconnectable with national and sub-regional platforms, and spatial monitoring using satellite imagery and GIS in partnership with the Ecological Monitoring Centre (CSE), ISRA/CRODT, and research institutes [§37]. As a baseline, drones, tracking tags, and SMART software are already deployed in protected area surveillance.

The results framework specifies priority actions, key indicators, 2024 baselines, deadlines, and responsible parties for each national commitment. The source material notes that deadline and responsible party columns are "largely unpopulated" [§42][§43].

Risk management

The NBSAP identifies implementation as taking place "in a context marked by climate, economic and social uncertainties" and establishes a risk management approach through environmental monitoring via the WENDOU Platform, CROP Service, Pastoralism and Dry Zones Hub (PPZS), and forest and protected area GIS systems [§39]. A national contingency plan is to be deployed in the event of a major crisis, concentrating efforts on critical zones [§39].

Sources:

  • §37 — Part IV > 3. Monitoring and evaluation framework
  • §39 — Part IV > 5. Risk management
  • §42 — Logical Framework Matrix (Results Framework) (part 1/4)
  • §43 — Logical Framework Matrix (Results Framework) (part 2/4)

6. Finance and Resource Mobilisation

The SPANB dedicates Strategic Axis 4 to "Mobilisation of resources and innovative financing" and gives explicit priority to national resource mobilisation over external aid [§31][§36]. The financing architecture — spanning domestic public instruments, innovative mechanisms, and international engagement — is detailed in the section A Sovereignty Financing Model above.

GBF Target 19 (finance mobilisation) receives substantive treatment: a full section of the NBSAP addresses the resource mobilisation strategy, and the results framework specifies eight priority actions under the corresponding national commitment, from annual green budget preparation to carbon credit valorisation and debt-for-nature swaps [§36].

The NBSAP does not provide a total implementation cost estimate for 2026–2030, and does not specify a quantified financing gap or a target as a percentage of GDP. The National Action Plan Matrix 2026–2030 includes provisional budget columns, but these are not populated in the source material. The conclusion states that activating mechanisms such as carbon credits and green taxation "will provide [Senegal] with additional means for its policy and strengthen its autonomy of action" [§40].

Sources:

  • §21 — 1.2.1. Assessment of the NBSAP 2015–2025
  • §31 — Part III > Strategic axes adopted
  • §36 — Part IV > 2. Resource mobilisation strategy
  • §40 — Conclusion

7. GBF Target Coverage

GBF Target 1: Spatial Planning — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 1 commits to incorporating biodiversity into territorial planning tools and extending the classified domain across all eight Territorial Hubs [§34]. Planning instruments include Master Development Plans (PDU), the Urban Planning Code (Law No. 2023-20), the Construction Code (Law No. 2023-21), and the NDS 2025–2029 objective of sustainable territorial planning. Hub-specific priority actions include securing land tenure of natural spaces through classification, harmonising urban planning with environmental policies, and maintaining biological corridors. Indicators include area classified and number of planning instruments integrating biodiversity requirements. The National Development Strategy identifies "construction of sustainable cities and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services" among its expected outcomes.

GBF Target 2: Ecosystem Restoration — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 2 commits to restoring mangroves, degraded land, salinised soils, and forests [§34]. Over 80 million mangrove trees have been planted in Casamance and Sine-Saloum, presented as baseline evidence of an existing community restoration dynamic on which the SPANB builds. The NDC 3.0 (2025–2034) integrates Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration and prioritises forest fruit trees and mangroves. The Great Green Wall has reforested 119,000 hectares, produced 18 million seedlings, and restored 80,000 hectares; 160 hectares of mangroves have been restored in Ziguinchor and Sédhiou [§44]. Priority actions include reforestation and area enclosure, nature-based solutions for coastal erosion, and recovery of degraded land. Approximately 40% of agricultural holdings already practise agroforestry.

GBF Target 3: Protected Areas (30×30) — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 3 sets a quantified target to increase total protected area coverage to 30% of national territory, including marine and coastal zones — the sole measurable commitment in the SPANB [§34]. Senegal reports approximately 36% of national territory under protection, a figure representing primarily terrestrial coverage; the national commitment is driven by the marine and coastal dimension. Marine Protected Area coverage has expanded from 0.72% to 4.9% between 2012 and 2024. Nine new classified forests totalling 84,726 hectares were created in 2021. The protected area network encompasses six national parks, five reserves, classified forests exceeding 2 million hectares (DEFCCS), and 17 MPAs totalling more than 400,000 hectares (DAMCP). Niokolo-Koba National Park was removed from the World Heritage in Danger list in July 2024. A proposed Trust Fund for Protected Areas would provide dedicated autonomous financing (see A Sovereignty Financing Model). Indicators include number of new sites classified and area of new protected zones.

GBF Target 4: Species Recovery — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 4 commits to reducing species extinction risks, protecting genetic diversity, and managing human-wildlife conflicts [§34]. Named species for targeted conservation include elephants, chimpanzees, lions, African wild dogs, Derby elands (Taurotragus derbianus, estimated 250–300 individuals), manatees, sea turtles, and vultures. Successful reintroductions of the Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah), Dorcas Gazelle (Gazella dorcas), and Dama Mhorr Gazelle (Gazella dama) at the Guembeul Special Wildlife Reserve are cited. The NBSAP flags genetic pollution from foreign breed introductions as a threat to local livestock breeds; 174 cultivated plant varieties are recorded, with many traditional varieties of cowpea, rice, Bambara groundnut, fonio, millet, and sorghum identified as endangered. Instruments include a national gene bank, a One Health approach for epidemiological surveillance, and biological rest periods.

GBF Target 5: Sustainable Harvest — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 5 commits to ensuring safe, legal, and sustainable trade in and harvesting of wild species [§34]. The NBSAP identifies specific harvesting threats: illegal trafficking of African rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus), African mahogany, and dimb; destructive honey harvesting and palmyra wine tapping; overfishing with small-mesh nets and toxic baits; and unregulated charcoal production. Priority actions include management of forest massifs (indicator: area under sustainable management), organisation of timber campaigns with compensatory reforestation requirements, monitoring of non-timber forest product harvesting via transport permits (indicator: number of permits by product category), and artisanal fisheries management through biological rest periods. A One Health approach is integrated into harvest management.

GBF Target 6: Invasive Alien Species — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 6 commits to reducing the risk of introduction and spread of invasive alien species [§34]. Documented invasives include Typha domingensis, Prosopis juliflora, Eichhornia crassipes, and Salvinia in the Senegal River delta; Mimosa pigra in Niokolo-Koba National Park; Diodia scandens in the Diourbel-Louga Hub; and Pistia stratiotes. Of 100,000 hectares of water bodies invaded in the Senegal River delta, 40 hectares of Typha have been cleared and 30 km of canals cleaned. Two priority actions are specified: invasive species monitoring (indicator: area treated) and capacity building of Defence and Security Forces on biological border control (indicator: number of agents trained) — an arrangement that places biosecurity within a national security architecture.

GBF Target 7: Pollution Reduction — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 7 commits to reducing pollution-related risks and impacts on biodiversity [§34]. Six priority actions are specified: ICPE monitoring (indicator: ICPE inspection rate), wastewater monitoring, revision and enforcement of plastics legislation (Law No. 2020-04), development of the circular economy through recycling (indicator: plastic recycling rate), integrated management of agricultural chemicals via an inter-ministerial committee (indicator: meetings per year), and nature-based solutions for coastal erosion. The Environment Code (Law No. 2023-15) strengthens the polluter pays principle; monitoring of classified installations has recovered 3.4 billion FCFA in pollution prevention. A carbon tax targeting oil and gas sector companies is under development. Documented concerns include mercury and cyanide from gold panning along the Falémé, pesticide runoff in the Niayes, and plastic and wastewater pollution in Dakar.

GBF Target 8: Climate and Biodiversity — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 8 commits to strengthening ecosystem resilience to the effects of climate change [§34]. Explicitly linked to the NDC 3.0 (2025–2034), which integrates Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration and prioritises mangrove and forest fruit tree reforestation. Three priority actions are specified: reforestation and area enclosure (indicator: area treated), bush fire control (indicator: area burnt or biomass consumed; baseline: 300,000–700,000 ha/year affected), and protection of urban and peri-urban wetlands (indicator: number of classifications or prohibition orders implemented). The WENDOU Platform, CROP Service, and Pastoralism and Dry Zones Hub (PPZS) provide real-time environmental monitoring. The energy mix stands at approximately 40% renewables.

GBF Target 9: Wild Species Use — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 9 commits to promoting sustainable management and use of wild species [§34]. Priority actions include hunting management by species-specific quota system (DEFCCS; indicator: quota trends by species), reforestation of forest fruit trees including baobab, madd, and shea (indicator: seedlings planted and revenue generated), wildlife farming (indicator: number of private farms created or supported), and development of ecotourism circuits (indicator: tourism revenues). Hub-specific interventions in the South-East target forest fruit trees essential for wildlife feeding including Saba senegalensis, Detarium, Tamarindus, Cola cordifolia, Parkia biglobosa, Vitellaria paradoxa, Elaeis guineensis, and Borassus aethiopum. Communities and the private sector are to develop economic valorisation models spanning ecotourism, wildlife farming, beekeeping, and oyster farming.

GBF Target 10: Agriculture and Forestry — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 10 commits to adopting sustainable practices in agrosilvopastoral, mining, and fisheries operations [§34]. The agroecological transition is operationalised through the FACIE instrument (indicator: number of FACIE created). Approximately 40% of agricultural holdings already practise agroforestry; the NDC 3.0 integrates Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration into agricultural policy. Artisanal fishing in MPAs is to be governed by local codes of conduct (indicator: number established). Mining sector actions include ESMP monitoring (indicator: ESMP implementation rate) and biodiversity criteria in corporate CSR (indicator: CSR budget allocated to biodiversity). Specific mining concerns addressed include zircon extraction in Thiès and Louga, phosphate mining in Matam, and gold panning with mercury and cyanide along the Falémé.

GBF Target 11: Ecosystem Services (NbS) — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 11 commits to strengthening ecosystem goods and services for the benefit of communities [§34]. Priority actions include promoting participation of private stakeholders and local authorities in ecosystem protection (indicator: number of successful community initiatives or financial volume mobilised) and developing community micro-projects focused on enumerated services — restored habitats, bee colonies, oyster colonies, bird colonies, and availability of fruits and fodder. The Dakar lakes generate 2.6 billion FCFA per year in ecosystem services for over 1,100 users, cited as a valuation baseline in the results framework. Ecosystem-based management is established as the second guiding principle of the SPANB, calling for integrated management of all components of nature and their interactions across defined geographical areas.

GBF Target 12: Urban Biodiversity — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 12 commits to integrating biodiversity into urban and peri-urban planning [§34]. A 200 km casuarina reforestation belt from Dakar to Saint-Louis — historically a green belt buffering coastal habitats — is identified as critical urban-adjacent infrastructure under threat from illegal occupation and declassification. Priority actions are reforestation and establishment of urban green spaces (indicator: number created) and integration of trees into urbanisation plans (indicator: number of plans incorporating urban forest spaces). The Niayes wetlands within the Dakar Hub face progressive backfilling conversion into housing. Legal instruments include the Urban Planning Code (Law No. 2023-20) and Construction Code (Law No. 2023-21). The NDS 2025–2029 includes construction of "sustainable cities (green, resilient and smart)" as an expected outcome.

GBF Target 13: Genetic Resources / ABS — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 13 commits to establishing a national legislative and regulatory framework on access and benefit-sharing, digital sequence information (DSI), and traditional knowledge [§34]. Senegal is party to the Nagoya Protocol. Strategic objective 3 of the SPANB is to "improve access to and equitable sharing of monetary and non-monetary benefits arising from the use of genetic resources as well as associated traditional knowledge." ABS is framed as a sovereignty instrument and a lever for mobilising financial resources. DSI is explicitly referenced in the national target text. Priority actions include adoption of ABS texts (indicator: number of State-user agreements) and protection of traditional knowledge (indicator: number of access rules established). The diagnosis acknowledges persisting legal gaps in enforcement of ABS mechanisms.

GBF Target 14: Mainstreaming — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 14 commits to integrating biodiversity into eight named sectors: agriculture, livestock, fisheries, tourism, urban planning, mining, transport, and energy [§34]. The results framework introduces an investment screening criterion: percentage of new high-ecological-footprint projects authorised in areas of biodiversity conservation interest (parks, reserves, classified forests, MPAs, wetlands, beaches, offshore zones). Training modules on biodiversity mainstreaming will be delivered at both ministerial and decentralised levels to enable Territorial Authorities to integrate biodiversity into Communal and Departmental Development Plans (PDD and PDC). Advocacy aims to secure dedicated budget allocations from local elected officials for ecosystem conservation and restoration.

GBF Target 15: Business Disclosure — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 15 commits to promoting integration of biodiversity into company and financial institution decision-making [§34]. Priority actions are incentivising companies to direct CSR funds toward ecological restoration and protected area management (indicator: volume of CSR funding allocated to biodiversity) and developing PPP models for national parks and nature reserves (indicator: number of PPPs established). The Green Taxonomy of Senegal, under development, is positioned as a lever for directing institutional financing toward high environmental and social impact projects. The polluter pays principle creates both a voluntary incentive (duty reductions for compliant companies) and a regulatory requirement through Environmental and Social Management Plans.

GBF Target 16: Sustainable Consumption — Tier 2: Mentioned

GBF Target 16 is listed in the SPANB's strategy grouping under the "Sustainable use" intervention mechanism. The NDS 2025–2029 includes "adoption of sustainable consumption practices" as an expected outcome, and the fifth guiding principle calls for optimal valorisation of natural resources based on actual ecosystem capacities. The capacity building section recommends education and communication to transform individual and collective behaviour toward more sustainable lifestyles. The strategy does not contain a dedicated national commitment 16 or results framework entry with quantified commitments; sustainable consumption is addressed through cross-cutting principles and the NDS rather than a standalone commitment.

GBF Target 17: Biosafety — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 17 commits to strengthening national capacities in biotechnological safety [§34]. Law No. 2022-20 (2022) provides the legal basis, and the precautionary principle is explicitly applied to biotechnologies with a requirement for rigorous risk assessment. Two institutional deliverables are named with specific indicators: operationalise the National Biosafety Committee and its regulatory framework (indicator: number of cases processed) and operationalise the national reference laboratory for GMO control (indicator: number of samples analysed). The National Biosafety Authority (ANB) holds regulatory, control, and scientific monitoring mandates for all GMO and biotechnology aspects.

GBF Target 18: Harmful Subsidies — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 18 commits to reducing subsidies harmful to biodiversity conservation [§34]. The priority action is promotion of green taxation (indicator: number of companies benefiting from duty reductions). The polluter pays principle, strengthened through the Environment Code (2023), has recovered 3.4 billion FCFA through revalued pollution taxes on classified installations. A carbon tax project targeting companies with large ecological footprints — particularly in oil and gas — is under development. Green taxation is framed as both an incentive mechanism (duty reductions for compliant companies) and a penalty instrument (taxes on polluting classified installations).

GBF Target 19: Finance Mobilisation — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 19 commits to mobilising financial, technical, and human resources for implementation [§34]. Strategic Axis 4 is dedicated to innovative financing and gives explicit priority to national resource mobilisation. Operational instruments include: annual green budget (preparation, execution, and monitoring), the polluter pays mechanism (3.4 billion FCFA recovered), and green bonds (first regional issuance already launched). Under development: Green Taxonomy of Senegal, Trust Fund for Protected Areas, carbon tax for oil and gas, carbon credits from Casamance/Sine-Saloum mangroves and southern forests, debt-for-nature-and-climate swaps, and CSR+ mechanisms. International engagement includes intensified environmental diplomacy and planned training in green financial engineering for GBFF, Green Fund, and carbon market eligibility. Financing autonomy is framed as a sovereignty imperative throughout the strategy's conclusion.

GBF Target 20: Capacity and Technology — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 20 commits to strengthening national capacities and technology infrastructure [§34]. Training programmes address biodiversity mainstreaming in sectoral policy, green financial engineering for international fund eligibility, and ecological valorisation models (ecotourism, wildlife farming, beekeeping, organic agriculture, oyster farming). The technology architecture includes a national biodiversity monitoring platform planned as an interactive dashboard interconnectable with sub-regional systems, and spatial monitoring using satellite imagery and GIS in partnership with the Ecological Monitoring Centre (CSE) and ISRA/CRODT. As baseline, drones, tracking tags, and SMART software are already deployed in protected area surveillance. The FDES 2013 is identified as the methodological entry point for environmental statistics.

GBF Target 21: Data and Information — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 21 commits to strengthening national biodiversity data systems through community-involved mechanisms [§34]. Priority actions are implementation of the FDES (indicator: compendium of environmental statistics) and integration of nature into national accounting (indicator: number of accounts developed). ANSD and technical partners including ECOWAS, WAEMU, CILSS, RAMPAO, and PRCM are to be mobilised for data harmonisation. A mid-term review is scheduled for 2028. The NBSAP acknowledges a knowledge deficit: the UN SEEA Biodiversity Framework has not yet been deployed in Senegal, and invertebrates, fungi, and microorganisms are virtually absent from national databases. Eco-guards, village committees, and CBOs serve as frontline data collectors and alert systems under a participatory monitoring mechanism.

GBF Target 22: Inclusive Participation — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 22 is formally reformulated in the SPANB from GBF Target 22's framing on indigenous participation to: "Territorialise biodiversity protection through inclusive governance that respects community rights and guarantees the equitable participation of women and young people" [§34]. This reformulation signals a deliberate shift toward decentralised, rights-based framing. Priority actions include strengthening shared governance (indicator: number of functional management committees) and supporting local nature conservation initiatives (indicator: number of recognised community protection areas). Community governance mechanisms include Community Nature Reserves (RNC) and Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (APAC). CBOs of a social and cultural nature constitute 52% of environmental stakeholders nationally. Territorial Biodiversity Committees are planned for regional and departmental levels. The SPANB was developed through territorial consultation workshops in all eight Hubs with a whole-of-society approach.

GBF Target 23: Gender Equality — Tier 1: Addressed

National commitment 23 commits to ensuring gender equality in biodiversity policy implementation [§34]. The results framework cites a specific baseline inequality: women carry approximately 60% of forest restoration efforts but hold access to less than 8% of land rights — identified as a factor limiting the impact of their contribution. Priority actions address both dimensions: development of income-generating activities for women active in ecosystem restoration (indicator: funding mobilised for the benefit of women) and increasing the representation of women in biodiversity decision-making bodies (indicator: number of women in decision-making bodies). The reformulated text of national commitment 22 also references equitable participation of women and young people, embedding gender equity across the governance framework.

Translated from French