Dionewar island faces severe coastal erosion in Senegal

The island of Dionewar, located in Senegal’s Saloum Delta within the Fatick region, is facing severe coastal erosion that threatens homes, agriculture, and local infrastructure. Since the rupture of the Sangomar sand spit in the late 1980s, the coastline has receded significantly. In some areas, the sea has advanced approximately 180 meters toward residential zones and farmland over the last twenty years.

The environmental impact includes the loss of coconut trees, fruit trees, and vital mangrove forests. Increased salinization is also reducing the viability of traditional agriculture. To combat these changes, local residents have implemented various defense measures, such as installing wooden stakes on beaches to retain sand and using tires and concrete to protect the local cemetery from encroaching waves.

Community-led reforestation efforts are underway to restore degraded areas and strengthen the mangrove forests, which serve as a natural barrier against the Atlantic waves. Local authorities, including representatives from the Sangomar Marine Protected Area, are involved in monitoring these efforts to mitigate the loss of land and vegetation.