HELP GRANTED TO THE LOCAL POPULATION
In Senegal, ecotourism, a means of preservation and protection of nature, is a new concept. To that extend, face with the threats prevailing over the natural heritage, some nature friends have set up ECOTOUR, a specialised agency. It aims at participating in the development of this form of tourism by taking into account the economic and social interests of the local population. ECOTOUR considers not only to take part in the services of the basic population but also to support the community development initiatives.
In this respect, the following initiatives are supported by ECOTOUR
The big tuuru of Mame Ndiaré (1)
5% of the product collected from each participant will be given to the organizers of the big tuuru. This support will be planned either for the purchase of the oxen destined to the sacrifices, or to the other expenses of the tuuru (catering, hiring of facilities for the organisation of the tuuru, payment of the griots etc.) Through this support, ECOTOUR aims at encouraging the preservation of the culture of the inhabitants of Yoff and therefore that of the Community Heritage Area of Teunguene, one of the symbolic sites of the genius Mame Ndiaré.
The local initiatives promotion fund (2)
3% of the product collected from each participant will be destined to the local initiative promotion fund managed by the administration of the National Park of the Islands of Madeleine (PNIM). This fund is planned for the financing the management and the preservation of the PNIM and it environment. The actions involve :
• Financial support to the ecoguards for the diversification of their income sources
•Financial grant to the projects and associations of the see populations for nature protection (awareness campaign in schools, participation in the world days of environment etc)
•Training within the framework of the reinforcement of the players' capacities intervening in the management and the preservation of the PNIM.
Otherwise, the fund is financed by the ecoguards who give 20% of their annual incomes gained from their economic activities carried in the park.
The ecoguards are young volunteers stemming from the surrounding area and have come spontaneous supporting the agents of the park in their activities of development, ecologic assistance, supervision, information and local population awareness.
