The second quarter of 2025 marks major milestones for Lignaverda in Senegal. As temperatures rise, our teams are working full speed, both literally and figuratively, to restore ecosystems, create agricultural opportunities, and lay the scientific foundation for future carbon certification.

Groundwork: 600 Hectares Prepared for Reforestation

We have begun ploughing three new plots of 200 hectares each using the Delfino 3S plough. This specially designed tool applies the Vallerani water harvesting technique, creating deep furrows that increase rainwater infiltration and significantly improve seedling survival in dry conditions.

So far, 250 hectares have already been ploughed, with more work continuing in the coming weeks.

Fencing Starts Mid May

Mid May, we will begin fencing off the three new reforestation plots. Three dedicated teams, one per site, will secure each area, protecting young trees from livestock and wildlife. This is a vital step in ensuring successful and lasting reforestation.

FICAP: New Borehole in Diéry to Enable Horticultural Production

Thanks to support from the Flemish Government’s FICAP programme, we will begin drilling a borehole in Diéry within the next one to two weeks. This will lay the foundation for 5 hectares of sustainable horticultural production, contributing to local food security, diversified income, and agroecological training.

Carbon Certification: Establishing the Baseline

A key objective of this mission is to gather the necessary data for baseline reporting in support of carbon certification. This “zero point” provides a snapshot of the ecological and socio-economic conditions at the outset of the project:

• 🌿 Vegetation assessments are being carried out across 200 circular inventory subplots, each 0.2 hectares in size, spread across the 14 plots established since 2023.
• 🌱 Soil samples are being collected to determine the current organic matter content,  a key indicator of soil health and carbon storage potential.
• 👥 200 socio-economic surveys are being conducted to document the current well-being and livelihoods of the local population, helping us to measure our social and economic impact over time.

Working Together for Lasting Impact

These combined efforts reflect Lignaverda’s core mission: to restore degraded land, empower local communities, and create measurable contributions to climate resilience.

We look forward to sharing more results from the field soon and we thank our partners and supporters for making this work possible.