13 January 2018 was a big day: The Landscape of the Year Senegal/The Gambia was ceremonially opened with a colourful party in Koumbidja Socé in Senegal! This is the first Landscape of the Year in Africa. The objective of this Naturefriends pilot project is to illustrate how international solidarity can be put into practice – and thus sustainably established – by means of specific activities in the region.

The selected region lies on the edge of the Sahel zone and is already marked by the consequences of climate change. This is why climate justice was at the heart of all activities – hundreds of fruit trees were planted, which provide families with fresh fruit and a new source of income. Furthermore, Naturefriends also offer journeys into the region which enable personal contact and exchange between guests from Europe and the local communities. These journeys also promote the development of sustainable tourism which provides the local population with a steady income.