IUCN Management Category IX (Biosphere Reserve)

Biogeographical Province 3.04.04 (West African Woodland/savanna)

Geographical Location Located in the Fatick district in the Sine-Saloum region, 6km from the Atlantic Ocean. Centred 14°08'N, 16°45'W.

Date and History of Establishment Protected as classified forest since 1936. Approved as a Biosphere Reserve in 1979

Area 756ha

Land Tenure Government

Altitude 5-10m

Physical Features This forest is situated close to the sea and is subject to the influence of Atlantic trade winds. The climate is cool and humidity high. Mean annual rainfall is approximately 800mm.

Climate No information

Vegetation The coastal zone forests are similar to those of the Casamance, with species of the genera Elaeis, Daniellia, and Pterocarpus. The vegetation is dominated by Borassus aethiopum, but important species are: Acacia seyal forming pure stands in the lowest zones; Combretaceae, normal in this zone, are represented by Combretum glutinosum and Anogeissus leiocarpus; large trees of the sahelo-sudanian savanna are present. The most common species are: Borassus flabellifer, Acacia seyal, Combretum glutinosum, Detarium microcarpum, D. senegalense, Acacia senegal, A. albida, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Khaya senegalensis, Sclerocarya birrea, Prosopis africana, Sterculia setigera, Parinarium macrophyllum, Tamarindus indica, Cordyla africana, Parkia biglobosa, Cassia sieberana, Grewia bicolor, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Daniellia oliveri, Mitragyna inermis, Dichrostachys cinerea, Annona glabra, Terminalia macroptera, Piliostigma reticulatum, Ficus sp., Elaeis guineensis, Phoenix reclinata, Tamarix senegalensis, Chloris prieurii, Gloriosa simplex, Asparagus pauli-guilelmi, Aristida sp., Hibiscus asper, Cenchrus biflorus, Sesbania pachycarpa, Cassia obtusifolia, Cyperus podocarpus, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, and Nymphaea micrantha.

Fauna Mammals include: patas monkey Erythrocebus patas, palm rat Xerus erythropus, red mongoose Herpestes sanguineus, bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus, civet Civettictis civetta, red-flanked jackal Canis adustus, common jackal Canis aureus and bush hare Lepus whytei. Birds include: ground hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus, red-billed hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus, black dwarf-hornbill Tockus hartlaubi, grey plantain-eater Crinifer piscator, green pigeon Treron calva, red-eyed dove Streptopelia semitorquata, common francolin Francolinus bicalcaratus, Namaqua dove Oena capensis, long-tailed glossy starling Lamprotornis caudatus, Senegal fire-finch Lagonosticta senegala, Senegal coucal Centropus senegalensis, chestnut-bellied sand grouse Pterocles exustus, rose-ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri, black kite Milvus migrans, pied crow Corvus albus, African pygmy kingfisher Ispidina picta, white-backed vulture Gyps africanus, hooded vulture Necrosyrtes monachus, cattle egret Bubulcus ibis, speckled pigeon Columba guinea, Abyssinian roller Coracias abyssinica, hoopoe Upupa epops, palm-nut vulture Gypohierax angolensis, laughing dove Streptopelia senegalensis, spur-winged plover Vanellus spinosus, grey kestrel Falco ardosiaceus, intermediate egret Egretta intermedia, and little egret E. garzetta. Reptiles include: rock python Python sebae, Nile monitor Varanus niloticus, green mamba Dendroaspis viridis, tortoise Geochelone sulcata, Nile crocodile Crocodylus niloticus (V), and puff adder Bitis arietans.

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population No information

Visitors and Visitor Facilities No information

Scientific Research and Facilities The reserve offers great potential for research on man-environment interactions, particularly with Borassus palm use.

No information

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Traditional human intervention is allowed, but strictly supervised to avoid direct or indirect damage to the fauna.

No information

The preservation of the typical Borassus landscape necessitates the continuation of traditional human intervention and the management plan for the reserve takes this into account by allowing traditional collection of dead wood, wild fruits, medicinal herbs, gums and resins of Borassus plant parts by the local population who live outside the reserve. The peripheral areas of the reserve are farmed under contractual agreement, one of the clauses stipulating that a certain number of Borassus palms be left per hectare of cultivated land. Moderate grazing is practised in these areas in the dry season after harvesting.

Management Constraints Farming and grazing in peripheral areas.

Staff One Engineer and one Technician from the Forestry Service

Budget No information

Local Addresses

Inspecteur des Eaux, Forêts et Chasses, Kaolack, Sine Saloum.

References

None listed

Date 1985