Senegal herders demand return of grazing grounds controlled by U.S. firm
▻https://news.mongabay.com/2023/03/senegal-herders-demand-return-of-grazing-grounds-controlled-by-u-s-fi
African Agriculture (AAGR), a U.S. company planning to grow alfalfa for livestock feed in Senegal, is set to launch an initial public offering on the Nasdaq exchange.
But the land concession it holds used to be part of the Ndiaël nature reserve, a wetland that’s home to many threatened species and a key grazing ground for local herders.
The land was declassified by presidential decrees without the consultation or agreement of the local population, who are considering suing AAGR in the U.S.
Hydrologists warn the use of pesticides during the cultivation of alfalfa will contaminate the nearby Lake Guiers, which provides 65% of the capital Dakar’s drinking water.