Economic Assessment of Ecosystem Services Provided by the Sangomar Marine Protected Area in the Saloum Delta Biosphere Reserve (Fatick, Senegal)

Abstract

The Sangomar Marine Protected Area (AMPS) plays an important socio-economic, ecological and cultural role. However, since its creation, little information exists on its total economic value, which is generally difficult for local people to perceive. This study is a contribution to the assessment of the economic value of the AMPS. To do this, surveys were carried out in three villages of Dionewar (Dionewar, Falia and Niodior) using focus groups for all types of ecosystem service with specific socio-professional categories, fisheries services and managers. The criteria measured concerned the identification of stakeholders, the population’s perception of the services and their monetary value. The results show that the majority of stakeholders in the AMPS are fishermen (48%), carters (42%) and women who process fish and forest products (29%). A total of 19 ecosystem services were inventoried, and divided into 4 categories (provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services). The most important services in terms of scores were nursery (8.71), soil formation (8.43) and the water cycle (8.38). The total economic value of the AMPS was estimated at 2,808,323,563 FCFA, with regulating services having the highest value (61.87%), followed by provisioning services (22.53%). These results should serve as a decision-making tool to raise awareness of the importance of the AMPS among the population and political decision-makers.