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Parc National du Diawling
Parc National du Diawling, with an area of 15,600 ha, lies in the
lower delta of the Senegal River in
Mauritania.
It is a saline floodplain dotted with marsh-pools and sand dunes.
The site includes three coastal lagoons and an estuarine zone of
mangroves providing feeding grounds for fish, shrimp, and prawns.
 Together
with the Senegalese part of the delta, where the Parc National des
Oiseaux du Djoudj is situated, this area provides an important
feeding and watering site for numerous waterfowl. The mangrove swamp
supports breeding colonies of Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea),
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), African Spoonbill
(Platalea alba), Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Great
White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus). Small numbers of bustards,
guinea fowl, ducks, geese, swans and francolins are also present.
Created in 1991, the Parc National du Diawling is a unique example
of the reconstruction of a natural environment. In order to simulate
the hydrology of the lower delta before water of the Senegal River
was impounded behind dams, the Parc National du Diawling has
installed, with the involvement of the local population, six
hydraulic structures (two for water supply, and four two-way
structures) and dikes that make it possible to divide the park into
three great basins Diawling, Bell and Gambar. The water level has to
be monitored to ensure that it does not fluctuate greatly from year
to year.
Mammals in the park include warthogs, jackals and patas monkeys. The
last gazelles have disappeared recently.
Human activities include controlled traditional gathering,
harvesting, fishing, and grazing.
The stated aims of Diawling National Park are to preserve and ensure
the sustainable use of natural resources of a part of the lower
Senegal delta ecosystem, to promote the continuous and harmonious
development of the range of activities of the local population to
coordinate pastoral and fishing activities within its boundaries. (IUCN)
Ramsar site no. 666.
The Convention on Wetlands came into force for Mauritania on 22
February 1983. Mauritania presently has 3 sites designated as
Wetlands of International Importance, with a surface area of
1,231,100 hectares:
Banc d’Arguin, Parc National du
Diawling, and
Chat Tboul.
References: Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
http://www.ramsar.org/ram/ram_rpt_42e.htm
http://www.ramsar.org/profile/profiles_mauritania.htm
Waterbirds Around the
World
http://www.jncc.gov.uk/PDF/pub07_waterbirds_part5.4.6.pdf
African Bird Club
http://www.africanbirdclub.org/countries/Mauritania/hotspots.html
IUCN Wetlands and
Water resources Programme
http://www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/WTL-029.pdf
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