Sustainable community management of the mangrove ecosystems in the Ntiallakh basin

The Ntiallakh basin mangrove is part of the Senegal River Delta wetland system considered to be one of the largest and richest West African wetlands. It is known for its biodiversity importance and ecological functions. These ecological functions include nesting site for many bird species such as cormorants, Black-crowned Night heron, pelicans, Sacred ibis, Flamingo, etc; breeding sites for fishes; provides wood for households and for construction for the local communities and pastures for livestock, thus its importance for the lower delta population. This estuary which was colonized by thick mangroves (Avicennia germiens, Rizophora racemosa) has been seriously affected by drought and alteration of river flows through major works in the Senegal River Basin (construction of the Diama dam ) that led the delta to lose most of its ornithological value through: salinisation, destruction of the mangrove forest, loss of fishes and shrimps nesting. Recent ecosystem / hydrological restoration efforts by the authorities of the Diawling National Park (a Ramsar site) in collaboration with international organizations (e.g. IUCN, Wetlands International, Birdlife International) improved the situation and allowed a better understanding of the ecology in a number of delta zones. Fish resources have made a spectacular come back in the delta, important water bird populations are now regularly observed, and several species again started to reproduce. However, much remains to be done. In fact due to the lack of sustainable management and protective measures the local population is involved in eggs collection further destroying important water birds populations and uncontrolled collection of mangrove wood. Mangrove seedlings are also subjected to intense grazing by livestock (camel and sheep) causing serious problems to its regeneration in spite of the PND partial restoration of the hydrological restoration explained above. This project is a follow-up of SWP/IUCN NL 2AF00034A project which main output was the production of a report on water bird dynamics and habitat dynamics in the Lower Delta, sites that could be restored were identified and guidelines for their restoration developed. This project phase focuses on the restoration of the Mauritanian Lower Delta mangrove ecosystems a component of the Diawling National Park Management Master Plan. The goal of this project is to contribute to the sustainable management of the Ntiallakh mangrove biodiversity. Specific objectives are: 1) To contribute to the restoration and sustainable management of the Ntiallakh mangrove ecosystems; 2) To Strengthen the capacities of the local communities in sustainable use of the mangrove and fisheries resources; 3) To promote a process of sustainable management of the Mauritanian Lower Delta mangroves through environmental awareness.