River, people and uncertainties : a socio-ecological resilience of Middle Senegal River Valley

In Senegal river basin, large dams were built during the 1980’s to secure water resources after a decade of water scarcity in the 1970’s: Manantali in the upper basin with a reservoir of 12km3 and Diama close to estuary to avoid saltwater intrusion during dry season. Senegal river water resources are known under the supervision of Senegal River Basin Development Organization (OMVS), which defines water allocation between different goals (electricity, irrigation, flood-recession agriculture).
The Senegal river valley, located on northern part of the basin (with low precipitation < 300 mm), deals with different socio-ecological changes, following thirty years of dam management. Hydrological changes are characterized by a new hydrological regime, especially by a higher irregularity of annual flood. The main change is the development of an irrigated agriculture along the floodplain, and the valley is a strategic place for national rice production. In these context livelihoods are particularly affected by change and uncertainties around climate change, hydrology and economy. The agricultural landscape is currently remodeled around irrigation, where traditional activities are still included and combined.

The aims of this communication is to determine the influence of both changes, socio-economic and hydro-climatic, in the reorganization of the agricultural landscape of the middle Senegal river valley, and especially the way they interact together. Water management at different scales (basin level versus local level), diversification of agriculture and socio-demographic dynamics are some important factors of the socio-ecological resilience of the middle Senegal river valley to uncertainties and mutations.