LES FEMMES DANS LA GESTION DÉCENTRALISÉE DES RESSOURCESNATURELLES: L’EXEMPLE DES GROUPEMENTS DE PROMOTIONFÉMININE DE LA RÉSERVE NATURELLE D’INTÉRÊT COMMUNAUTAIREDE SOMONE (THIÈS)

The study examines women‟s involvementin the community natural reserve management of Somone. In Senegal, this reserve management is legally under the jurisdiction of elected local governments. But, in the case of community Natural reserve of Somone, Senegal‟s National Park Service, in the name of “ and women‟s involvement in the environment management” and evoking the national policy to promote women‟s engagement in development, chose to constitute a women‟s group to manage and protect the reserve. The big beneficiaries of the benefits of the reserve were the leaders of these women‟s groups and not the members. The men and youth in the villages, however, felt excluded and angry. So did many women who were not benefitting from the arrangements. The elected rural council president was also frustrated. The result was that the village was deeply divided. Men ant other women disengaged from management of the reserve.