Gambie-Koulountou

Gambie-Koulountou is a semi-arid region on the norther border with Senegal, comprising the floodplain of the Koulountou River, the Gambia River’s main tributary, and a number of smaller, often temporary, watercourses and ponds. The Site is located in the natural region of Middle Guinea; it overlaps with the Badiar Biosphere Reserve and the Guinean part of the cross-border Niokolo-Badiar Park. The water bodies support 80 mammal species (including lions, chimpanzees and antelopes), 330 bird species (including wild ducks, ibis, raptors and hornbill), 36 reptile species including pythons, 20 amphibian species and at least 60 species of fish, which find an important refuge in the Site during the dry season. The savannah, forest, woodland, and aquatic vegetation plays an important role in preventing erosion and siltation of the wetlands, while humus deposition increases the floodplain’s fertility and supports rice cultivation. Fishing and livestock breeding are also significant, while non-timber forest products are collected for several uses; bamboos (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) and the African fan palm (Borassus aethiopium) are the most exploited species. Only conservation activities are allowed in the core area of the Biosphere Reserve, but in the periphery a co-management system is in place to allow the varied communities to make use of the site. Bush fires, illegal fishing, pesticide use, and slash-and-burn agriculture constitute some of the main threats.

All sites in Guinea

Related news

2nd Governing bodies meeting of Senegal River Basin Initiative (SenegalWet)

Two Ramsar sites in Guinea add 800,000 hectares to the Ramsar List

Guinea designates six large Ramsar sites in the upper Niger river basin