This video and short article describes a new agricultural practice that is growing in popularity in Senegal.
Tolou Keurs, drought-resistant, circular gardens, are being planted to slow desertification and provide food security and livelihoods for local communities.
Boki Diawe, an agricultural engineer, describes how he envisions that Tolou Keurs can play a role in the Great Green Wall reforestation project in Africa.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This resource is a great example that highlights how local communities around the world are working together to fight climate change and support biodiversity, while simultaneously fighting poverty and food insecurity.
The video refers to the problem of desertification and drought and how it impacts communities living near the Sahara Desert.
The article highlights the importance of cultural and Indigenous knowledge, guidance, and participation.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with the concept of desertification.
Some of the video is in French, but English subtitles are provided. The article is only in English.
Differentiation
Students could use this resource as part of a research project to learn about how climate change is impacting communities around the globe and causing climate migrations.
Science classes could discuss how intercropping trees and perennial crops can help reduce erosion and provide a microclimate for the other crops that is cooler and more humid than the area surrounding the garden.
Related resources include this video about regenerative farming practices, this activity about climate change and water security, and this digital book about sustainable farming.
Scientist Notes
Global warming is causing the Sahara Desert to grow, which is dangerous for the many people that live near its borders. This video showcases how some Senegalese farmers are building circular Tolou Keur gardens to prevent that from happening. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-2 Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
MS-LS2-5 Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (ACTFL)
Connections: Connect with other disciplines and acquire information and diverse perspectives in order to use the language to function in academic and career-related situations.
3.1 Making Connections: Learners build, reinforce, and expand their knowledge of other disciplines while using the language to develop critical thinking and to solve problems creatively.
