Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve
| Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve | |||
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| Location: | North Bank , Gambia | ||
| Specialty: | Wetland according to the Ramsar Convention |
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| Next city: | Salikenne | ||
| Surface: | 22,000 ha | ||
| Founding: | 1996 | ||
| Visitors: | public | ||
 The Gambia flows here from east to west; the Bao Bolong comes from the northeast. |
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The Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve (BBWR) is a nature reserve in the West African state of Gambia . The wetland is named after the Bao Bolong River . The French spelling of the river Bao Bôlon , as it is common in the neighboring state of Senegal , is also used, so that the area can often be found in the literature under the name Bao Bolon Wetland Reserve and the spelling Baobolon Wetland Reserve .
history
On January 1, 1993, an area of 3500 hectares was initially designated as Bao Bolong National Reserve . From September 16, 1996, with an expanded area of 22,000 hectares (according to other sources 20,000 hectares), it was the first area in Gambia to be recognized as a protected wetland Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve under the Ramsar Convention . According to this convention, the drafting of which was initiated by UNESCO , the habitat for waterbirds and waders has been protected by the international treaty since 1975 . For the other nature reserves in the country, the Tanbi Wetland Complex and the Niumi National Park (NNP), the Gambian authorities are also striving for recognition according to Ramsar. As with the NNP, the plan is to expand BBWR across borders and jointly manage the area with the Senegalese authorities.
geography
The nature reserve has an extension of 22 kilometers and a width of approximately nine kilometers. The western part is in the Central Baddibu District and the eastern part in the Upper Baddibu District , both of which belong to the North Bank Region .
Essentially, the area consists of the estuary of the Bao Bolong River, one of the larger tributaries of the Gambia Current near Katchang Point . It is around a hundred kilometers from the mouth of the Gambia into the Atlantic Ocean . The approximately one hundred kilometers long Bao Bolong has its source in Senegal. In the area of the BBWR, the waters of Salokini Bolong , Mandon Bolong , Duntu Malang Bolong , Tanku Bolong and the Katchang Bolong are also known by name.
The Gambia forms the southern edge of the nature reserve. On the other bank of the river, about two kilometers away, is the 11,500-acre Kiang West National Park . An approximately two to two and a half kilometers wide zone of dense mangrove forest joins the river. To the west lies the town of Salikenne , which has a population of almost 4,000, and the 732 hectare Dobo Forest Park is located north of North Bank Road . The 59 hectare Jalabiro Forest Park is located on the western border within the wetland .
The northern edge is bounded by the North Bank Road, Gambia's second most important trunk road . On this road and at the junction to Salikenne there are other smaller towns such as Nja Kunda , Minti Kunda , Kekuta Kunda , No Kunda , Konti Kunda Sukoto , Konti Kunda Nji and Illiassa . To the east, after a junction with a length of nine kilometers from North Bank Road, lies the town of Katchang with a population of 1700 . The division's largest city with more than 30,000 inhabitants, Farafenni is approximately 18 kilometers from the outer boundary of the BBWR in the east. In total there are 25 small towns on the border of the wetland, including one within the border. The residents of the villages fish for their own needs and let their livestock graze in the BBWR. They also collect firewood and construction wood there .
The terrain is flat, the highest point is given as twelve meters above sea level.
Flora and fauna
Ecosystems
The Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve contains a rich flora and fauna in the various ecosystems. Particularly important, protected trees are in the " Ramsar Information Sheet highlighted": African rosewood ( Pterocarpus erinaceus ), Parinari macrophylla , faidherbia albida ( Acacia albida ), Wild Mango Tree ( Cordyla africana ) and the Néré ( Parkia biglobosa ).
Mangroves
In the mangrove forest of the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve in the Senegambia region, only here do the mangrove trees reach a height of 20 meters. The species Rhizophora racemosa , red mangrove ( Rhizophora mangle ) and black mangrove ( Avicennia germinans ) are very common.
Salt marsh
In the salt marshes , for example, the succulent Sesuvium portulacastrum and the grasses Sporobolus spicatus , Paspalum vaginatum and the brown thin grass ( Diplachne fusca ) can be found from the family of the midday flowers . Phragmites karka , antelope grass ( Echinochloa pyramidalis ) and real papyrus ( Cyperus papyrus ) are very widespread in the grass savannah , which is occasionally flooded .
savannah
In the savannah you can find trees of the species "Daniela" ( Daniellia oliveri ), African rosewood ( Terminalia albida ), red kapok tree ( Bombax costatum ) and others. Among the shrubs you can find various species of figs , Piliostigma thonningii , Terminalia avicennioides , Anthostema senegalense and Nauclea latifolia . Of grasses can be found Andropogon tectorum and Gamba grass ( Andropogon gayanus ) Beckeropsis uniseta and Pennisetum subangustum .
Avifauna
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The Gambia is a country much visited by ornithologists ; over 540 species of birds are described in the specialist literature. The BBWR is a primary destination for visitors and ornithologists exploring the Gambia's diverse and colorful bird life . Among the bird world of the BBWR, which contains around 268 species in 62 families, some are listed by name in the Ramsar Information Sheet :
Typical of a wetland, there are many ducks in the BBWR , including geese. Among them are the knob-billed duck ( Sarkidiornis melanotos ), spur-winged goose ( Plectropterus gambensis ) Witwenpfeifgans ( Dendrocygna viduata ), teal ( Anas querquedula ), pintail ( Anas acuta ), African Pygmy Goose ( Nettapus auritus ) and the shoveler ( Anas clypeata ).
From the order of similar birds are the coast Heron ( Egretta gularis ) Seidenreiher ( Egretta garzetta ), woolly-necked stork ( Ciconia episcopus ), the hammer head ( Scopus umbretta ) Rallenreiher ( ardeola ralloides ), bittern ( Ixobrychus minutus ), Goliath Heron ( Ardea goliath ), Egrets ( Casmerodius albus ), marabou ( Leptoptilos crumeniferus ), night heron ( Nycticorax nycticorax ), gray heron ( Ardea cinerea ), cattle egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) and the sacred ibis ( Threskiornis aethiopicus ). This group of birds uses their long legs to search the areas near the shore for food.
The representatives of the plover family can be found in the brackish water area . Here the red lapwing ( Hoplopterus spinosus ), pygmy sandpiper ( Calidris minuta ) and the common sandpiper ( Actitis hypoleucos ).
Under the colorful family of kingfishers who like to live near a body of water, are the Woodland Kingfisher ( Halcyon senegalensis ), Pied Kingfisher ( Ceryle rudis ), swallow-tailed bee-eater ( Merops hirundineus ) Giant Kingfisher ( Ceryle maxima ), Malachite Kingfisher ( Alcedo cristata ) and the Zügelliest ( Halcyon malimbica ) mentioned.
The West African representatives of the starling family are also colorful . These include the amethyst gloss star ( Cinnyricinclus leucogaster ) and the long-tail gloss star ( Lamprotornis caudatus ) in the BBWR.
Among the Racke birds which are the Northern Hornrabe ( Bucorvus abyssinicus ) and the European roller ( Coracias garrulus ) mentioned.
Representatives of the parrots can also be found in West Africa, including the black-headed parrot ( Poicephalus senegalus ) and the ring-necked parakeet ( Psittacula krameri ).
The families of pelicans and darters are also inseparable from water . The red pelican ( Pelecanus rufescens ) and the African darter ( Anhinga rufa ) live in the BBWR .
Among the birds of prey are the fish eagle ( Haliaeetus vocifer ), the Salvadoran buzzard ( Buteo auguralis ), the black kite ( Milvus migrans ) and the juggler ( Terathopius ecaudatus ) as inhabitants of the wetland.
The spectacle pigeon ( Streptopelia decipiens ) from the genus of the lovebirds and the house swift ( Apus affinis ) from the family of sailing birds are also observed.
Ichthyofauna
Under the fish world of the BBWR, some fish are listed by name in the Ramsar Information Sheet : The Ethmalosa fimbriata , the barracudas ( Sphyraena sp. ), Fingerfish ( Polydactylus quadrifilis ), Arius latiscutatus , Pseudotolithus elongatus , Pomadasys percygnathus and the Pseudotolithus bracygnathusei . The tilapia ( Tilapia ) and mullets (Mugilidae) are found in these waters.
In addition, the Gasar oyster ( Crassostrea gasar ) and the blue crab ( Callinectes sapidus ) can be found in the waters . The West African manatee African manatee ( Trichechus senegalensis ), which is a mammal, lives in the waters of the mangroves and is classified as an endangered species.
Furthermore, the Nile crocodile ( Crocodylus niloticus ) is a common reptile species.
Mammals
Around thirty are known from the mammalian field , the Ramsar Information Sheet lists the common capotcher ( Aonyx capensis ). The small, almost one meter shoulder height, large antelope species , the sitatunga ( Tragelaphus spekeii ), bushbuck ( Tragelaphus scriptus ) and the duiker (Cephalophinae) as well as the warthog ( Phacochoerus africanus ).
The spotted hyena ( Crocuta crocuta ) is common among the carnivores . The leopard ( Panthera pardus ) is also attributed to the BBWR.
From the group of primates are Ramsar Information Sheet of Red Colobus ( Piliocolobus ), the patas monkey ( Erythrocebus patas ) and the Green monkey ( Chlorocebus ) mentioned. But the Guinea baboon ( Papio papio ) and the Senegal galago ( Galago senegalensis ) can also be found.
tourism
For tourism , the area is used only moderately. The eco-tourism , including bird watching and the general nature observation should be further developed. In addition, boat tours through the mangroves with pirogues are carried out.
See also
swell
- ↑ a b Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve www.prcmarine.org
- ↑ Ramsar Information Sheet ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
literature
- Craig Emms, Linda Barnett, Richard Human: The Gambia. The Bradt Travel Guide (= Bradt Travel Guide ). 2nd edition. Bradt Travel Guides, Chalfont St. Peter 2006, ISBN 1-84162-137-4
- Stephen C. Stringall, Dody Broyles: Gambia. International Travel Maps, Vancouver 2003, ISBN 1-55341-217-6 (map, 96 × 61 cm, 1: 350,000)
Web links
- The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance: Baobolon Wetland Reserve ( Memento from June 29, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- www.birdlife.org - Description at BirdLife International (English)
- Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve www.prcmarine.org
- Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve ( September 26, 2006 memento in the Internet Archive ) by Momodou Camara
- Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve resourcepage.gambia.dk