The University Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD) has launched the GUARD project, a research initiative aimed at protecting groundwater resources in Senegal's Dakar-Mbour-Thiès region. The project seeks to strengthen the resilience of aquifers and improve water security in the face of demographic pressure, pollution, and climate change. The region's groundwater resources are under threat due to over-exploitation, saline intrusion, and contamination risks.
The GUARD project was launched at the Centre international de recherche et de formation en génomique appliquée et de surveillance sanitaire (CIGASS) in the presence of representatives from UCAD and several partner institutions, including the DGPRE, UNESCO, OMVS, SONES, and OLAC, as well as the Danish Embassy. The project's goal is to improve knowledge of groundwater resources through scientific research, surveillance technologies, and hydrogeological modeling.
Professor Alioune Diouf, Director of Research and Innovation at UCAD, emphasized the importance of reliable data in informing decisions related to water resource preservation and management. Professor Kader Fofana, representing the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, highlighted the project's expected contribution to strengthening scientific capacities, training young researchers, and developing partnerships.
The launch event featured scientific presentations on GUARD's objectives and research axes, followed by a demonstration of a TEM (electromagnetic geophysical equipment) technology. This technology enables the exploration of subsurface structures and better characterization of geological formations that may contain groundwater. The equipment will support the project's goal of improving knowledge of groundwater resources.
The GUARD project aims to develop tools for the knowledge, surveillance, and forecasting of water resources. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the sustainable management of aquifers in the Dakar-Mbour-Thiès region and better anticipate challenges related to water supply security in Senegal. The project is a collaborative effort between UCAD and several international partners.
The project's focus on the Dakar-Mbour-Thiès region is strategic, as this area is crucial to Senegal's water supply. The region's groundwater resources are under pressure due to rapid urbanization, population growth, and climate change. The GUARD project seeks to address these challenges by providing a scientific basis for informed decision-making on water resource management.
The launch of the GUARD project marks an important step towards protecting Senegal's groundwater resources. The project's success will depend on the collaboration of various stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, and local communities. The project's outcomes are expected to contribute to improved water security and sustainable management of groundwater resources in Senegal.
Key points
- The GUARD project aims to strengthen the resilience of aquifers and improve water security in Senegal's Dakar-Mbour-Thiès region.
- The project will improve knowledge of groundwater resources through scientific research, surveillance technologies, and hydrogeological modeling.
- The project's success will depend on collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and local communities.
