The Senegalese Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition, in collaboration with the National Parks Directorate and the School of Librarians, Archivists and Documentalists (Ebad), has launched a digital platform called "Niokolo-Base" for the management of documentary heritage of Niokolo Koba National Park. The park, located in the Kédougou region, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981 and is a key ecosystem for biodiversity conservation in West Africa.
The park has been the subject of numerous studies, research, scientific missions, and conservation activities, generating a significant amount of documentary heritage on biodiversity, fauna, flora, ecosystems, conservation, park management, and socio-environmental dynamics. However, a large part of this documentation was scattered across several offices and institutions, making access difficult. The new digital platform aims to address this issue by centralizing and digitizing resources.
According to Cheikh Ndiaye Sylla, technical advisor to the Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition, "Niokolo-Base" is a sanctuary for Senegal's great fauna and is dedicated to the scientific and technical documentation of Niokolo Koba National Park. He emphasized that the platform must become a reference in documentary and a lever for scientific and environmental cooperation in Senegal.
The platform is expected to facilitate research, decision-making, and improvement of park management and conservation practices. Djibril Diakhaté, director of Ebad, highlighted the need to guarantee the platform's sustainability by establishing a trained team within the National Parks Directorate, ensuring continuous feeding of new reports and studies, and securing institutional and budgetary support.
The launch of "Niokolo-Base" is a collaborative effort between the Senegalese government, international organizations, and local institutions. The platform is expected to serve as a model for other conservation efforts in the region. The Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition hopes that the platform will contribute to the preservation of Niokolo Koba's rich biodiversity and ecosystem.
Key stakeholders, including the National Parks Directorate, Ebad, and international partners, are working together to ensure the platform's success. The platform's development is a significant step towards improving the management of Niokolo Koba National Park's documentary heritage and promoting sustainable conservation practices.
The digital platform "Niokolo-Base" is a valuable resource for researchers, conservationists, and park managers. Its launch marks an important milestone in the preservation of Senegal's natural heritage and demonstrates the country's commitment to protecting its biodiversity.
Key points
- The digital platform "Niokolo-Base" centralizes and digitizes documentary resources on Niokolo Koba National Park.
- The platform aims to facilitate research, decision-making, and improvement of park management and conservation practices.
- The launch of "Niokolo-Base" is a collaborative effort between the Senegalese government, international organizations, and local institutions.
