Senegal's landscape was once characterized by diverse forests and savannas. Today, large parts of the soil are depleted by intensive monocultures, ecosystems are endangered, and the region is affected by droughts. For the local people, this is becoming an increasing challenge, as they are heavily dependent on the peanut harvest. If this turns out poorly, the farming families earn correspondingly little.
More diversity through agroforestry
Where peanuts and millet were once primarily grown, so-called agroforestry areas are now being created. Farming families combine various tree and plant species in such a way that the soil can recover and biodiversity is promoted. The fields become shadier and cooler, while new habitats for animals and plants are created. At the same time, people can harvest different plants and fruits throughout the year and are no longer dependent on just one harvest.
Already last year we supported the agroforestry project in Senegal's Ndankou and Patte forests and, with your help, planted over 67,000 trees. Now, another 67,000 are being added.
A living fence
Every agroforestry project begins with a fence made of rows of trees. These are planted around a field to protect the vegetable garden inside from roaming livestock, wild animals, soil compaction, and wind. Within the fence, families grow a diverse mix of crops and trees:
- Nitrogen-fixing plants such as moringa or pigeon pea bind nitrogen in symbiosis with soil bacteria, enrich the soil with humus and minerals through their deep roots and nutrient-rich biomass, and thus replace synthetic fertilizers.
- Mango, cashew, papaya, and citrus trees provide shade for the vegetable gardens and protect them from drying out. Since the trees bear fruit at different times of the year, the farming families can harvest fresh fruit all year round.
- Diverse types of vegetables provide additional food and quick yields.
The results are impressive. It is cooler and shadier in the established gardens than in the previous fields, and they are bursting with biodiversity. Furthermore, families no longer have to wait an entire year for a single, uncertain payout from peanut farming, but now benefit from regular harvests and the resulting income throughout the year.
Figures for the current project:
- This year, we are planting over 67,000 trees in the agroforestry project in Senegal.
- Together, these trees sequester around 1,016 tons of CO₂ annually. That is roughly the same as the amount emitted by 221 cars per year.
- A total of 27 hectares of land will be renatured – equivalent to 38 football fields.
150,000 trees for agroforestry in Senegal
After over 15,000 trees in 2024 and over 67,000 in 2025, the project continues this year: another 67,000 trees are being added! With this, upon completion of this agroforestry project, we will break the mark of over 150,000 trees planted – a milestone that was only possible thanks to your support. Because every NIKIN product purchased plants a tree – from April to September 2026 in Senegal.
You can find more about all our tree planting projects and the impact of your support on our TreeTracker page.
