Future projects

Ville Verte - Lac Rose Abilene Vert a sustainable oasis on the shores of the Senegalese Coast

The Permaculture Design Company adheres to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of 2015 and uses the principles and ethics of Permaculture in approaching the landscape design for the new satellite city of Ville Verte in Dakar, Senegal by Casa Orascom.

Dakar, Senegal
2020 — Ongoing

The area, flora, fauna & the first concept design

Addressing water management & rehabilitation of degraded land

The area

Lac Rose is located in the Northeast of Dakar in the rural area, about 30km from the capital city. It is surrounded by the seaside and the white dunes on its North, East and West and by a conglomerate of villages and new urbanizations on its South. Because of its closeness to the Atlantic Ocean, it is categorized as a Low-Lying Costal Area. It has a fragile status of ecosys
tem and many environmental and socio-economic shifts are occurring there due to population dynamics like different types of migrations, settlement and tourism.

The Lake is fed by abundant groundwater. Locals began an economic activity by extracting and selling salt from the lake since the 1970s. This had a huge impact on the area in regards to over-exploitation of resources, human settlement and potential coastward migration and environmental strains. The lake can be defined as a “chronically vulnerable area”. This makes it paramount for the rising city of Ville Verte to address water management at an early stage.

Flora & Fauna

The land across the Ville Verte is mainly degraded, soils that have lost primary productivity due to drought, salinity and human intervention. Thus, the rehabilitation of degraded land will be crucial for the city.

To overcome the lack of fertility in degraded soils, fast growing nitrogen fixing trees like Casuarina equisetifolia could be used. This species is able to grow in poor and disturbed soils and adapted to drought, salinity and flooding. They are also excellent windbreaks and stabilize sand dunes. An extensive belt could be further planted to the existing stand to protect the landscaped green spaces of the upcoming city. In addition, Casuarina wood is excellent in the production of smokeless fuel wood as well as hard wood for construction. The casuarina forest is already home to a substantial amount of fauna. If the habitat is restored, bigger mammals can come back.

Ville Verte’s location has to resist sand and dust encroachment every day. This can be achieved by using more indigenous plant species. Vegetation buffers the impact of wind and sand, while the planting of stands, clusters and shelter-belts has to be implemented. We have identified enough indigenous plant species to initiate planting against soil erosion and substantial ornamental landscaping plants for the various green spaces for the first phase of the project. Coconut trees can also be planted extensively amongst the Casuarina stand.

The existing casuarina forest will be a good source of organic materials to start building up soil for our landscaping needs. The surrounding communities can also be tapped to start a plant nursery under the casuarina trees after strategic pruning to allow diffused lights for growth.

There is also a big recreational potential in this space. Woodlands that could be developed and equipped for the growing recreational needs of urban populations in Dakar is a plus. Walking trails, a skateboard park or biking course could be provided and other low impact non-motorized recreational activities.

Lac Rose tourism can follow the Sustainable Tourism principles. It promotes tourism advantageous to the local economy and introduces a guarantee to the population to motivate them in supporting the tourism sector. Under the “Sustainable Teranga” initiative started in October 2013, Senegal’s Tourism sector follows the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Sketching & Concept Design

Zaha Hadid - Architect

"Architecture is really about well-being. On the one hand it is about shelter, but it is also about pleasure."

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Permaculture Design Company info@permaculturedesign.africa
+255 757 334 156

We are located in Fumba, Nyamanzi!

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P.O. Box 3564

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