Djoudj Bird Sanctuary - Senegal
In Danger 2000 to 2008
Area: 160 km2
Inscribed: 1981.
Criteria: (vii) aesthetic (x) biodiversity
Values: The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary is a wetland in the Senegal river delta, which serves as an over-wintering site for vast numbers of waterfowl and other Palaearctic migrant birds. Historically, the site was subject to alternating cycles of seasonal flooding with fresh water from the Senegal River, followed by an influx of salt water from the ocean during the dry season. This hydrological regime has been altered with the construction of dams both upstream and downstream of the sanctuary. A seasonal freshwater flood is now provided by release of impounded water, but the saltwater flooding no longer occurs. Waterbird counts in 1998 (after the dams were completed) revealed half a million individuals of just the top four species - garganey (222,000), pintail (120,000), ruff (120,000) and white-faced tree duck (36,000).
Slideshow of the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary/world heritage site.
Impressions (based on a visit in February 2006): The waterfowl congregation makes an amazing spectacle, and the sanctuary has become a popular visitor destination, with about 10,000 visitors annually. A boat trip along one of the main waterways, ending at a huge pelican breeding colony, is a major highlight.
Management challenges: The sanctuary is dependent on the efficient operation of the system of three sluices and associated levees that control the flow of water into the sanctuary, and on the availability of water when it is needed. The expansion of irrigated agriculture and increasing demand for water for other uses may ultimately limit the amounts that can be released into the sanctuary, but it seems the availability of water is not yet limiting: the Senegal River drains an enormous catchment and most of its volume still drains into the sea.
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Links: Google Earth | UNEP-WCMC Site Description | Official UNESCO Site Details | Birdlife IBA
