Eco-fest 2025: Cultivating Hope, Community & Resilience in the Sahel

(This release is a summary of the impact of the Eco-Fest hosted by GEN Africa’s REDES)

Dear REDES Family, Partners, and Friends, What an extraordinary journey Eco-Fest 2025 has been! From February 15–18, the communities of Lahel (Senegal) and Loboudou (Mauritania) became the beating heart of a movement proving that when we dream together, it is no longer just a dream—it is the beginning of reality.

A Message from Dr. Ousmane Aly Pame:

My deepest congratulations to each of you for the resounding success of Eco-Fest 2025! Together, we met the challenge of organizing this cross-border event. While there’s always room to grow, our goals were not just met—they were surpassed. The festival was vibrant, beautiful, and profoundly impactful, touching hearts and minds in lasting ways.

Special Thanks To:

The volunteers, local and international partners, and teams of REDES, ADC Salayel, and REMEV.
The host communities of Lahel, Loboudou, Moundouwaye, Ali Guélél, and the fishermen of Ali Guelel.

Artists, journalists, speakers, and all who shared their talents and wisdom.

Our ambassadors, Baaba Maal and Thierno Madani Tall, and the authorities of Senegal and Mauritania
for their unwavering support. Aly Ly and the people of Loboudou for their boundless generosity.We
also extend our deepest gratitude to Los Portales community (Spain), Heilhaus Community (Germany),
all supporters and donors—especially Theo Rouhette—as well as Lisa Sumner and her students for their
invaluable contributions. Our thanks also go to Robert Gilman and Context Institute, Prof. Ousmane
Sene & WARC, Prof. Abdourahmane Tamba & SOS Environment, Colonel Demba Ba, and Dr. Amy Seck
Bakhoum, Director of ANEV. Finally, we acknowledge Romain & Marta Serafini, Yaka Ibou Ngom, and

Abdoulaye Konteh (Ecolyco) for their dedication.

Without your direct involvement, this miracle would not have been possible. We are forever grateful.

Tangible Achievements

The impact of these collective efforts is undeniable. In Loboudou, 18 hectares of degraded forest have been regenerated, transforming the area into a thriving biodiversity sanctuary that hosts 130 bird species. Beyond this, 500,000 “Trees of Friendship” have been planted across borders, fostering ecological and cultural connections. Communities have also gained access to 63 new wells, ensuring clean water and supporting family gardens. Additionally, free medical camps have brought essential healthcare to rural populations, demonstrating how environmental and social well-being go hand in hand.

Voices of Commitment

Leaders and changemakers have rallied behind this movement. Minister Daouda Ngom of Senegal’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (METE) praised the initiative, stating, “Congratulations on this meaningful event. METE pledges its full support to REDES in its noble mission of ecosystem restoration.” Meanwhile, Baaba Maal, UN Ambassador for Climate Change, played a pivotal role at Eco-Fest 2025, where his vibrant call for action resonated deeply with attendees. His electrifying performance of “Lekki” (The Tree) with the Salaayel Cultural Group—blended with their song “Lorngo Ledde” (Reforestation)—became an
anthem for biodiversity. Calling REDES’s work “a model to expand across the Sahel,” he pledged to return for future collaboration.

Culture & Community

The festival was a vibrant celebration of heritage and sustainability. Under the lush canopy of Loboudou’s forest, artisans and farmers showcased traditional crafts and local foods, while Baaba Maal’s presence electrified the festival. Beyond his climate advocacy, he bridged art and ecology—improvising with local artists and igniting cross-border unity. His commitment to merging “Lekki” and “Lorngo Ledde” into a biodiversity anthem reflects REDES’s mission: culture as a catalyst for change.

Poets and musicians from Ndioum and beyond poured their knowledge, wisdom, and enthusiasm
into the event, weaving stories of resilience into the fabric of environmental activism.

Highlights included:

• Storytelling sessions on ecovillage practices
• Exhibitions and workshops on water conservation and composting
• The ceremonial crowning of Felicia Davis (Die Maayo) and Georg Hansen as Diom Maayo (River Wisdom Keepers)
• A colorful parade of fishermen along the Senegal River

The Harambe people deepened their partnership by planting mango trees in REDES’s emerging food forest and funding wells—solidifying the project as “The Gate of Return for the African Diaspora.”

Youth leaders and women producers demonstrated sustainable techniques, while griots
and dancers performed alongside Baaba Maal, proving that ecological restoration thrives when rooted in culture.

Heartfelt Gratitude

To the visionary souls who brought this dream to life—Professor Tamba, Sow Moctar, Colonel Demba Ba, Sister Bahati, Felicia Davis, Georg Hansen, Katrina Jeffries, Los Portales, Heilhaus, and the countless named and unnamed champions who poured their knowledge, wisdom, and enthusiasm into this movement—we offer our deepest thanks. Your collective spirit has not only transformed landscapes but uplifted communities across borders.

A Closing Blessing

May the Universal Mango Tree we nurtured together bear its first fruits in five years’ time,
offering cool shade for generations to gather in dialogue and the sweet taste of what unity can achieve.

This tree stands as a living promise: with each planted seed and shared effort, we are co-writing a new Sahelian story—one where abundance triumphs over scarcity, peace flourishes in place of conflict, and our shared dreams take root in the fertile soil of collective action.

—Dr. Ousmane Aly Pame, Dakar

Stay Connected

Donation: www.redes-ecovillages.org
re***************@***il.org
WhatsApp: +221 77 471 29 27

Alone we go faster, together we go further.

With love and gratitude,
The REDES Team