Senegal's slow response to rapid economic, social, and technological changes has led to several environmental problems. The relationships of these resources to enterprises such as agriculture, fisheries, pastoralism, and fuelwood production are highlighted in terms of the country's geographical and social characteristics, economy, and political structure. The following environmental problems are evident:

(1) A quarter of Senegal's territory is arid and 70% is semiarid.

Desertification is widespread, particularly in the northern part of the Fleuve region, Senegal Oriental, the eastern central zone of Casamance, and the Cap Vert region.

Uncontrolled grazing, inadequate control of forest exploitation for fuelwood and coal, accidental and agricultural brushfires, and the abandonment of farmland due to loss of soil fertility all contribute to this erosive process.

(2) Inadequate management of water resources has caused fluctuations in the productivity of the agricultural, livestock and forestry sectors.

In the next 40 years, 13 dams will be built, providing electrical power...