Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
DELTA DU SALOUM |
© Photo: Boucar Ndiaye |
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General Description |
This biosphere reserve and national park is situated in the Delta of the seasonal Sine and Saloum rivers about 150 km south-east of Dakar. The biosphere reserve comprises 72,000 hectares marine areas, 23,000 hectares of flooded areas, and 85,000 hectares of terrestrial islands. Mangroves are dominant, but sand dunes, open forest on sandy soils, coastal waters and sand islands also characterize the area. The mangrove is principally made up of four species: Rhizophora racemosa, R. mangle, R. harrisonii and Avicennia nitida. There is a permanent threat to the mangroves by extension of rice culture and forest exploitation in the Fathala area. Other impacts on the environment include fires in the forest zone, excessive fishing, destruction of bird colonies and conflicts with industrial and agricultural development. Grassroot village associations play a critical role in mangrove restoration programmes, including the establishment of nurseries and setting up of reforestation plots. Village community organizations also have a key function in combining traditional and modern practices in fisheries or to set up ‘eco-guards’. In cooperation with the Direction des Parcs Nationaux, the IUCN regional office based in Dakar is working with the local communities and with national agencies and students of the University of Dakar on an integrated management plan for the Delta du Saloum Biosphere Reserve. This exercise is financed by the Dutch Embassy in Dakar, Senegal. |
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Major ecosystem type | Tropical dry or deciduous forest / tropical coastal/marine zone with mangroves | |||
Major habitats & land cover types | Estuarine habitat including banks of intertidal sand and mud flats thick; mangrove dominated by Rhizophora racemosa, R. mangle, R. harrisonii and Avicennia nitida; open flat areas ("tanns"); islands with halophile species such as Sesuvium portulacastrum, Philoxerus vermicularis and Paspalum vaginatum; dry forest; sand dunes; birds land: site of water breeding colonies of migratory water birds including over 30 000 pairs of ROYAL TERN (Sterna maxima) | |||
Location | 13°35' to 13°55'N; 16°28' to 16°48'W | |||
Area (hectares) | ||||
Total | 180,000 | |||
Core area(s) | 76,000 | |||
Buffer zone(s) | ||||
Transition area(s) when given | ||||
Altitude (metres above sea level) | 0 to +10 | |||
Year designated | 1980 | |||
Administrative authorities | Delta du Saloum La Direction des Parcs Nationaux | |||
Brief description |
Rehabilitation of saline soils through tree plantations and management of grazing animals Research on mangrove Birds, including data exchanges with BirdLife International Development of ornithological manuals and guides Research on cetaceans Mapping of the different biosphere reserve zones |
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Specific variables... | ||||
Abiotic | Soil. | |||
Biodiversity | Birds, mammals, mangrove, restoration/rehabilitation/redevelopment. | |||
Socio-economic | n.a. | |||
Integrated monitoring | Education and public awareness, management issues, mapping, planning and zoning measures/zonation. | |||
Contact address |
Moustapha Mbaye Commandant, Conservateur de la RB du Delta du Saloum Direction des Parcs Nationaux, BP : 5135 Dakar-Fann Senegal |
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Telephone | (221) 33 832 23 09 | |||
Fax | ||||
dpn@orange.fr aichayacine@hotmail.com |
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Last updated: 23/10/2007 |