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Environment
and development in coastal regions and in small islands |
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Environment
and development in coastal regions and in small islands |
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Coastal region and small island papers 12
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT CONFLICTS IN THE SALOUM DELTA BIOSPHERE RESERVE, SENEGAL
by Alioune Kane,
Marie Fall and Mamadou Kandji,
Department of Geography, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal
Introduction
The Saloum Delta Biosphere Reserve, located in the western central part of Senegal, is a wetland area of international status and a RAMSAR site, and consists of a wide expanse of coastal and marine ecosystems with high biodiversity.
Diversification of human activities in the area has led to competition for the control of space. Several types of conflicts occur: within and between village communities (farmers, breeders, fishermen, shell midden operators); between various State services (Sub-prefecture, National Parks, Forestry Department, Fisheries Department); and between decentralised authorities (Rural Council, Village Chiefdoms, Centre for Rural Development).
An analysis of conflicts related to natural resources management in the Biosphere Reserve (Fall, 2000) raises the key issues of (1) the perception by local communities of their area and its natural resources, and (2) management alternatives.
There is a wide range of conflicts within the village communities. Only two are presented here, one related to the exploitation of shell middens and the other to fisheries. The frequency of conflicts depends on population density and ethnic diversity, type of kinship ties between the various stakeholders, pressure and access to the natural resource.
Conflicts between shell midden operators
Shell middens are archaeological deposits (Neolithic and Iron Age Cultures) made of broken shells, and the remains of fish and mammals eaten by the fishers-gatherers. Other materials are also found, including kitchen middens, hearths, burials, pottery shards, weapons and human bones.
Three types of operators target these resources: (1) State or private quarry companies to extract the building material, (2) local people who use the shells to make bricks, and (3) the State of Senegal which is attempting to preserve these mounds as part of its Cultural Policy. The State is trying to build awareness among the population about their historical and archaeological heritage, which is not fully appreciated or exploited. The State is also introducing excavation regulations.
Conflicts are noticeable between operators: on the one hand there are those who take over shell quarries, setting up exclusionary zones, and building ovens in the immediate vicinity of the quarries; and on the other hand, there are those who collect the shells for ornamentation or construction using light equipment (sieves, spades, and pickaxes). The former group often interferes with the latter. In addition, operators living in villages where shell middens are located, such as in Beteni, forbid access to competitors from surrounding villages, hence clashes result between villages.
Finally there are conflicts related to the economic and archaeological value of the resource. In Thioupane, for example, shell middens have a very high market value locally. However, the middens are also classified as National Cultural Heritage.
Conflicts between fishermen
Fishing is the main economic activity for the island populations of the Saloum Delta. In many villages daily conflicts arise from the use of incompatible fishing gears, a high density of fishermen, the intensity of the activity, and the behaviour of stakeholders.
Different techniques are used in artisanal fishing and industrial fishing, and often these techniques are incompatible. Artisanal fishermen use standing gear (surface and bottom-set gillnets), while industrial fishermen use mobile gear (gill nets, beach seines, cast nets, lines, shrimp nets).
On many islands, fishermen using standing nets leave their nets across passes blocking access to those using mobile gear, who may then destroy the standing nets and rob them of their catches. According to those using free gear ‘the sea belongs to everybody and nobody is allowed to impede others from fishing’. Clashes between these fishermen may lead to fights taking place on the very fishing grounds.
The fishing grounds are zoned so that the Delta area up to 6 km offshore is restricted to artisanal fishing only. Beyond this limit, the fishing grounds are open to both industrial and artisanal fishermen (if their boats are suitable). Industrial fishermen, whose boats and catches are much larger, enter the 6 km zone and destroy artisanal fishing gear.
Lebous live on the islands separated by Bolongs (channels) and claim ownership of surrounding waters and their resources. They forbid the Niominka villagers access to these resources. The Niominkas claim that the Lebous use selective fishing gear thus catching the best fish and leaving only less coveted species.
In the Bolongs (channels), which are legally restricted to artisanal fishing, there is a double source of conflict, in that both artisanal and industrial fishermen exploit the same resource, and in addition, the Lebous restrict access to the resource by other groups of artisanal fishermen.
Conflict resolution
Rural population have a long-standing tradition for solving land related issues. They rely on traditional frameworks having their own specific rules (rooted in kinship or activity-related ties) and focused primarily on maintaining suitable living conditions and levels of production. Despite social diversity, such frameworks and networks reach beyond ethnic barriers and socio-professional categories, to maintain social cohesion. This ensures preservation and protection of the environment and especially the exploitation of shared resources. The networks strengthen social bonds among individuals and communities and provide a structure to promote development schemes.
Conflict
resolution: exploitation of shell middens
When two villages in the same area are in conflict, the first recourse is through the Rural Council, which holds a hearing with both parties involved and then legislates. In cases of continued disagreement, the State representative, the Préfecture, is called in to settle the dispute. For example, in the conflict between the Falia and Moindé villages, the conflict was solved on an amicable basis. The village notables met and found solutions: the Falia village was chosen as the caretaker of the site, being the closest. The Moundé village has a right of access to the site as long as no great damage is done and the archaeological heritage is not spoiled.
Conflict
resolution: fishing related conflicts
Conflicts between fishermen in the same village are solved, usually on an amicable basis, at the level of the Local Vigilance Committee (this is composed of village volunteers who are water and beach wardens), or sometimes at a higher level with the Village Chief.
Conflicts between fishermen of different villages are solved between the fishermen themselves and those who claim themselves as ‘true locals of the zone’. Otherwise they rely on the State's Fisheries Monitoring Services, which then applies the Fisheries Code to help solve the conflict.
There is sometimes disparity between the legislation and local practice. The lack of coherent legislation and regulations, and an appropriate institutional framework, leads to disagreements between traditional and modern ruling practices. In addition, illiteracy of local councillors and their lack of training in the law impede their objective management of conflicts.
Bibliography
FALL,
M. 2000. Natural resources management related conflicts in the Saloum
Delta Biosphere Reserve. T.E.R, Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities,
Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, 158 pp.
NDIAYE,
El Hadj, 2000. The dynamics of social networks in relation to coastal
management in Mboro-Ndeundkat. Post-Doctoral Diploma Thesis, UNESCO/UCAD Chair,
Department of Geography, 70 pp.
UNESCO, UCAD, AB, BMZ 1998. Contribution to the design of the Integrated Management Plan of the Saloum Delta Biosphere Reserve (Senegal), Dakar, December 1998, 86 pp.
