SCF green fund supports a project in Senegal
The Subnational Climat Fund, the green fund that continues the work initiated several years ago by R-20 and former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, has approved support for the «Walorise» Transformation et Valorisation du Typha» project in the Department of Dagana, Senegal. Thus, the fund will initially provide financial support to carry out the technical work of a project that aims to restore and preserve the biodiversity of the Senegal River Valley, paving the way for regenerative agriculture and providing sustainable energy by converting Typha australis (an invasive plant) into bioenergy.
The project arises from the need to solve a serious and urgent environmental problem facing the Senegal River environment: the rapid and destructive proliferation of Typha Australis. This invasive species significantly alters the local ecosystem, reduces arable land, obstructs river navigation and jeopardizes essential irrigation for agriculture. In addition, Typha australis promotes environments conducive to disease-carrying larvae and seed-eating birds, posing serious threats to public health and the environment.
Thus, with the Walorise initiative, this invasive plant will be useful for a renewable energy project (biogas), as well as for an agricultural promotion project. The pyrolysis and gasification process will allow the project to be self-sufficient in energy, thus strengthening its sustainability. But, above all, it will produce a high-quality organic fertilizer by combining biochar, produced by pyrolysis, and digestate, a by-product of anaerobic digestion. This process not only improves soil fertility, but also supports plant growth. It is particularly suited to crops such as rice, which is predominant in the Senegal River valley, and contributes to greater food autonomy, essential in a context of growing consumption and limited production. Although Senegal imports up to 80% of its rice needs, this initiative aims to reduce the country's dependence on imports.
Here is the information about the Subnational Climat Fund project:
