The Guidimakha Region is located in the extreme south of Mauritania, bordered to the south by the River Senegal, and to the east by the Falémé, a tributary of the River Senegal, which separates it from Mali.
In this region, as in most rural areas in Mauritania, the communities’ main activities are farming and livestock rearing. During the rainy season, the region gradually regreens with a rich vegetation and its water springs reappear, a period eagerly awaited by farmers and livestock breeders. When the rains are scarce, and the grass turns yellow, bush fires multiply in the region.
“When the grass is scarce in my village because of bush fires, animals head for our crops, which are our livelihoods, and that’s where the conflicts between farmers and herders start,” says Oumou Kethoum, a resident of Hel Wandou village.
The challenge for the region’s inhabitants is to preserve these resources, which are essential not only to livestock and crop survival, but also to peacebuilding. IOM has therefore provided the local authorities with contingency stocks centralized in the four Guidimakha departments. This donation, made up of resources and equipment that can be mobilized as a matter of urgency by the people actively involved in the authorities’ response, will further strengthen their participation in the fight against natural and climatic disasters.
In addition, to reduce the known causes and impacts of these phenomena, which can cause up to 200,000 hectares of grazing land to be lost each year in the case of bush fires and 4,930 hectares in the case of floods, IOM has conducted an awareness-raising campaign about natural disasters and animal epidemics in 20 localities in the region, this time to warn people about widespread harmful practices.
“In the past, Wompou prided itself on its dense forest and vast grazing lands, which were enough to feed its livestock. Unfortunately, because of bush fires and abusive logging, we have lost this privilege, and all this has a correlation with the increase in conflicts,” says Abba Vadel Hamed, Deputy Mayor of Wompou Department and Substitute Member of Parliament. “I’m in line with the messages conveyed when we raised awareness among our community: bush fires and abusive logging must stop,” he stresses.
In Guidimakha, the village committees, which were initially set up by IOM for conflict resolution, have been strongly involved in raising awareness among young people and women, which has fostered greater ownership of the key messages by the population.
“The village committee members are committed to their community and are available at all times, even late at night, to intervene for the benefit of the people,” says Moustapha Soumaré, Mayor of Khabou Commune. “Combating deforestation is our fight, and this awareness-raising campaign led by IOM is a perfect continuation of our efforts,” he adds.
All groups were involved in this campaign, including young people, who accounted for 43% of participants. This inter-generational mobilization made it possible to reach a wide audience and reinforce the impact of the messages disseminated, by promoting collective awareness and increased engagement of the whole community.
Following the post-awareness-raising evaluation, more than 90% of participants had acquired a full understanding of the issues addressed, including bush fires, floods and animal epidemics. The long-term engagement of these communities will enable them to limit the causes and consequences of natural disasters and climate change on their livelihoods and strengthen their resilience.
Supported by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, IOM remains committed and continues to support populations on their journey towards greater resilience against natural and climatic disasters.
