Strengthening Biodiversity Strategies in Senegal
WITH IUCN and THE FRENCH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (AFD)
As part of a national project under the multi-country program BIODEV2030 Phase 2, led by IUCN with support from AFD and Expertise France, LEAF Inspiring Change and CIRAD, facilitated a series of multi-stakeholder workshops in Saly, Senegal, between September and December 2025. The three-day workshops brought together government officials, private-sector leaders, and civil-society actors from different sectors to identify major threats to biodiversity, share experiences, and co-develop concrete actions to integrate biodiversity into productive practices. The workshops focused on priority biodiversity challenges in three representative socio-ecological contexts of Senegal: peri-urban systems, coastal systems and forest landscapes.
From the knowledge shared in the stakeholder-workshops, action sheets were developed which directly support the revision and implementation of Senegal’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) to be submitted under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). They provide a structured set of prioritized actions that can directly feed into both the formulation and the implementation planning of the revised NBSAP, strengthening the country’s capacity to operationalize the Global Biodiversity Framework at the national level.
Using TerriStories® to Simulate Challenges and Solutions for Biodiversity
Participants engaged in the innovative strategy game, TerriStories®, designed to simulate real-world decision-making and highlight the trade-offs between economic activities and environmental protection. The interactive methodology encouraged active participation, strengthened mutual learning, and supported the co-creation of cross-sector strategies.
Through this interactive approach, stakeholders had the chance to step into the realities of three emblematic territories facing pressures such as pollution, overexploitation, and ecosystem fragmentation. Over the course of the workshops, the game guides participants in exploring contextual challenges, identifying priorities, and shaping concrete actions. By simulating real decision-making dynamics, TerriStories® created a space for negotiation, shared understanding, and the co-construction of solutions tailored to national and territorial needs.
At the conclusion of the workshops, around 130 concrete actions were identified, covering ecosystem restoration, legal enforcement, economic revenue alternatives, awareness-raising, and governance improvements. Many address multiple sectors, emphasizing the need for cross-sectorial action.
The workshops proof to reinforce collaboration and trust among participants and demonstrate that biodiversity can be integrated on an equal footing with economic and social considerations in collective decision-making. The intense dialogue spaces held over three days also emerged to be an appreciated step towards building a national community of practice dedicated to sustainable development and biodiversity conservation in Senegal.
Reflecting on the workshop, participants shared their perspectives
“I appreciated the transversal and multidisciplinary nature of the participants.”
“I discovered socio-economic dimensions of biodiversity conservation.”
“I learned about balanced and equitable management of space among actors with different interests.”
Biodiversity Action Sheets for Senegal
The action sheets were developed after all three workshops and present a structured set of over 130 priority biodiversity actions for Senegal. Each action is linked to the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and to key biodiversity pressures, identified by IPBES.
The actions are organized in two complementary views:
Cluster-based entry
Actions grouped according to the three GBF thematic clusters, facilitating their use by institutions responsible for revising the NBSAP and for tracking progress toward international biodiversity targets.
Sector-based entry
Actions organized by sector: fisheries, forestry, agriculture, urban development, and multisectoral, enabling sectoral ministries and professional organizations to integrate biodiversity measures into their policies and planning.
The sheets are intended to support planning, monitoring, and implementation of actions. They provide a strategic overview and a practical tool to support biodiversity actions in Senegal.
Story written by: LEAF, edited by LEAF
Photo credits: LEAF
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