A traditional technique of anti-salt bunds (called “Facine”) from Senegal “My name is Songdé DIOUF from the village of Péthie in the municipality of Djilor, department of Foundiougne. I am a farmer and well-digger, a job that I inherited from my father. I am one of the precursors of the practice of “facine” in my village that is facing both gullies due to heavy rains in the last years and the progress of salinization that destroys our fields by making them infertile. The “facine” is an endogenous technique traditionally used for fishing in estuaries to trap small fish that inhabit the “bolongs” (small tributary) or estuaries surrounding our village. These are small structures built from local materials made of branches and wild herbs. This local technique has several functions as it can reduce water erosion -so the gullies- and the progress of salinization and helps recharge groundwater. Following proven effective results, several other villages in the municipality of Djilor joined us to experiment this simple and most importantly cheap technique as compared to hydro-agricultural structures, especially anti-salt dams whose construction requires tens of millions CFA. In the short term, the development of this technique will allow us to reduce the progress of salinization and gullies while promoting reforestation of our agroforestry systems. Consequently, it will positively impact our yields and hence food security. Today, it looks like we are facing a new destiny due to climatic disturbances. Our ancestors who had migrated after the dispersion of the Empire Gabou to settle in this central area of Senegal had been attracted by the richness and abundance of natural resources. Now that these resources have declined, I think that we need to use our indigenous knowledge to preserve the foundation of our ancient culture.”