National Tree Day: Moringa, a tree with multiple virtues and promising economic potential

The municipality of Sandiara hosted the celebration of National Tree Day, which focused on the responsibility of communities in protecting and restoring the environment. The theme of this year's event was: "From Seedlings to Trees: The Responsibility of Communities." The ceremony served as a reminder of the need to reconcile industrial development, job creation, and the preservation of natural resources.

The former mayor of Sandiara and Minister of Industry, Serigne Guèye Diop, stressed the central role of trees in building a sustainable development model.

“Planting a tree is planting a seed of hope for tomorrow. It is investing in life, in the health of our ecosystems, and in the sustainability of our communities. Trees are much more than just plants; they are pillars of sustainability. Ecologically, they combat erosion, enrich the soil, regulate the climate, and preserve biodiversity. Socially, everyone knows that trees create microclimates favorable to agriculture and are also sources of income for our populations. Economically, they support promising sectors (timber, energy, fruit, pharmaceuticals) and contribute to the growth of a green economy that creates decent jobs,” he declared, emphasizing the multiple ecological, social, and economic functions of vegetation cover.

Thus, according to him, reforestation is fully aligned with the vision of the Senegal 2050 National Transformation Agenda, particularly through the objective of building a resilient and sovereign nation in harmony with its natural resources. He called for extending beyond the month of August to make reforestation and tree maintenance a year-round activity, "twelve months a year."

An industry called upon to respect the environment

The Minister of Industry also addressed the environmental situation in the Sandiara industrial zone. While defending the role of industry in economic development, he called on companies to be more responsible in managing their waste and protecting the local population.

In this context, he announced the upcoming arrival of an environmental assessment mission in Sandiara to identify any potential responsibilities and, if necessary, take the appropriate sanctions.

“Industry is not an enemy of development, on the contrary. Without industry, there is no development,” he argued, while calling on industrialists to respect environmental standards.

This initiative is accompanied by several announcements concerning the Sandiara industrial zone. Serigne Guèye Diop announced a 7 billion CFA franc program for the fencing of the zone, as well as investments in roads and various networks (VRD) and water treatment.

The inter-municipal agropole to be relaunched in 2027

Another major announcement: the relaunch of the Sandiara inter-municipal agropole from January 2027. A budget of 20 billion CFA francs has been announced for the resumption of the project.

The minister indicated that the government had mobilized, for the current year, a budget of 350 billion CFA francs intended for 45 agropoles across the entire territory, with Sandiara now expected to benefit from this program.

In addition to these investments, there is a project to create an exit from the toll highway towards Sandiara - Ndiaganiao - Khombole. According to Serigne Guèye Diop, instructions have been given to Ageroute to begin the project next year.

Moringa: From a Godfather Tree to an Agro-Industrial Opportunity

The Minister of State in charge of the National Transformation Agenda Senegal 2050, Alain Diouf, stressed the need to find a balance between economic development and environmental protection.

He noted that population growth and the increasing needs for industrialization, housing, and agriculture are placing growing pressure on natural resources. Therefore, he argued, it is essential to integrate environmental considerations into all public policies and daily behaviors.

This year's edition notably highlighted moringa, presented as a tree particularly resilient to environmental shocks. Alain Diouf also emphasized its nutritional and medicinal properties, but above all its economic potential, which remains largely untapped in Senegal.

He called for the development of moringa cultivation, which could simultaneously contribute to nutrition, health and the development of new agro-industrial sectors.

Sandiara wants a model industrial zone

The mayor of Sandiara, Aliou Gning, for his part, advocated for a reforestation approach based on monitoring and maintenance.

“It’s not enough to simply plant a seedling and consider our mission accomplished. A seedling needs care and monitoring. Only with this constant attention will the seedling thrive and become a tree. That’s why the true success of a reforestation campaign isn’t measured by the number of seedlings planted, but by the number of trees that survive, grow, and contribute sustainably to the restoration of our environment. This responsibility belongs to the State, yes, that’s true, but it also belongs to local authorities, technical services, businesses, schools, associations, families, and every citizen,” Aliou Gning reminded everyone.

The mayor also called for the Sandiara special economic zone to become a model of environmentally friendly industrial development. He requested state support to strengthen infrastructure, including roads, drainage, sanitation, water and electricity networks, and lighting.

The construction of a wastewater treatment plant is also among the priorities put forward by the municipality. According to the mayor, such an infrastructure would limit the risks of pollution and better protect the health of the population.