II.

Land and Resources

Most of Senegal is an undulating plain lying below about 100 m (330 ft). Elevations rise above 500 m (1,640 ft) only in the extreme south-east, in the foothills of the Fouta Djallon.

A.

Rivers and Lakes

The main rivers are the Sénégal, which forms the northern boundary with Mauritania, and the Saloum, Gambia, and Casamance. Although these rivers are subject to seasonal variations in their flow, all are navigable on their lower courses.

B.

Climate

Senegal has a tropical climate, with a dry season from November to June, and a wet season from July to October. The average daily temperature is 23.3° C (74° F) in January and 28.3° C (83° F) in July. The annual rainfall is greatest in the south, averaging about 1,400 mm (55 in), and decreases steadily northwards, to less than 381 mm (15 in).

C.

Natural Resources

Calcium and aluminium phosphate, mined near Thiès, are Senegal’s principal exploited mineral resources. Reserves of both oil and natural gas were discovered offshore in the late 1970s but have yet to be developed. Large deposits of iron ore exist in the country, but have not been exploited because of their remoteness.

D.

Plants and Animals

The northern section of Senegal is part of the Sahel, a transition zone between the Sahara to the north and the wetter regions to the south. Vegetation here consists largely of savannah grasses with scattered clumps of trees and spiny shrubs. Farther south, in the region of the River Gambia, trees become more common. In the extreme south are mangrove swamps and dense forests of oil palms, mahogany, teak, and bamboo. Wildlife is diverse, but the small remaining populations of larger mammals, such as the elephant, lion, cheetah, and antelope, are largely confined to the less populated eastern half of the country. Hippopotamus and crocodile are found in the rivers. Among Senegal’s numerous varieties of snakes are the cobra and boa constrictor.

E.

Environmental Concerns

Although drought conditions have prevailed in Senegal since the late 1960s, wildlife is more abundant than it is in most countries located in the Sahel. Senegal is the world's largest exporter of exotic birds, and there is much poaching of other animals. Population pressures resulting from a very high 3.3 per cent (2000) annual population growth rate have led to the clearing of forests for additional farmland and fuel wood, as well as to increased livestock grazing on fragile rangelands. This deforestation and overgrazing, combined with the ongoing drought conditions, have caused desertification in large areas of the country. Only 70 per cent (1990-1998) of rural people have access to safe, drinkable water, and only 46 per cent (1990-1998) have access to adequate sanitation. The government of Senegal has initiated reforestation programmes to combat desertification and has designated more than 11.3 per cent (1997) of the country as parks and reserves. The Niokolo Koba National Park in south-eastern Senegal, consisting of 9,000 sq km (3,000 sq mi) of forests and savannah, protects a diverse range of animal species. The park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1981, but was placed on the World Heritage in Danger List in 2007, after plans were announced for the construction of a dam nearby.

The government has ratified international environmental agreements pertaining to biodiversity, climate change, desertification, endangered species, hazardous wastes, law of the sea, marine life conservation, nuclear test ban, ozone layer protection, ship pollution, wetlands, and whaling.