Sahelian wetlands

(Senegal, Chad, Mauritania)

Our work

In a region where water scarcity is a daily challenge, the Sahelian wetlands are crucial for millions of people.  These wetlands underpin pastoral, agricultural, and economic activities. They also support an incredibly rich and unique biodiversity, and are home to millions of waterbirds, many of which are migratory species that breed in Europe and Asia.

However, these ecosystems face significant threats, including climate change, uncontrolled agricultural development, water supply projects, intensive natural resource use, invasive aquatic species, and unsustainable hunting. These pressures are rapidly degrading the wetlands, dramatically altering habitats and severely impacting Sahelian waterbird populations.

The RESSOURCE+ Project ("Strengthening Expertise in South Sahara on Birds and their Rational Use for Communities and their Environment") addresses these challenges and seeks to preserve wetland ecosystems, understand the use of waterbird populations by rural communities, and promote sustainable wetland management. RESSOURCE+ Project seeks innovative solutions and a robust legal framework to balance human development with biodiversity conservation.

Who we work with

The RESSOURCE+ activities, coordinated by FAO, are implemented by technical partners recognized for their expertise (BirdLife Int., Cirad, OMPO, OFB, Tour du Valat, University of Liège, Wetlands Int.), in collaboration with national authorities and local wildlife institutions.

Output1

Component 1: Community rights and governance

An analysis of the compliance of national legal and regulatory provisions with the obligations of the Ramsar Convention and the AEWA Agreement was undertaken for Chad, Mali, Senegal, Sudan and Egypt. Four analyses have been completed and are available on the SWM Programme Legal Hub. Recommendations have been made to align national legal frameworks with these international agreements. All relevant legal texts, regulations, strategies, and policies related to wildlife conservation and wetland management are available on the SWM Programme's Legal Hub.

Output2

Component 2: Sustainable management of the waterbird resource

Under the International Waterbird Census (IWC) scheme, large-scale annual waterbird inventories have been conducted in ten major Sahelian wetlands to enhance knowledge of waterbird populations. The data collected has been processed and consolidated into a database developed specifically by the project, ensuring easier data sharing with relevant international agreements. Studies on waterbird harvesting and consumption were carried out at all project sites, highlighting the Nile Delta in Egypt and the Inner Delta of Niger in Mali for having marketing chains to urban areas. In other sites, waterbirds are harvested for local rural consumption or trade. At lake Fitri in Chad the bird census data and by-catch data were cross-referenced, suggesting unsustainable levels of offtake for five of the eight investigated species, despite uncertainties due to limited demographic knowledge. We also highlighted that waterbirds play a significant role in food security for some local communities.

Component 3: Conservation, management and rational development of wetlands

The project has supported the Ramsar designation and management of two wetlands:

  • Khor Abu Habil Inland Delta in Sudan. Since 2017, socio-economic appraisals and waterbird censuses have been conducted in collaboration with the Sudanese Wildlife Administration and local communities. This collaboration led to the designation of Khor Abu Habil Inner Delta as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on April 10, 2022.
  • Trois Marigots Community Reserve in the Senegal River Delta. Studies revealed and quantified the wetland's main ecosystem services, resulting in a participatory management plan. An innovative initiative was the revival of the white-water lily (Nymphaea alba), on abandoned rice fields converted for its cultivation, involving local women's groups. This environmentally friendly production can make a valuable contribution to improving the food security and economic conditions of local populations, while helping to maintain natural ecosystems favorable to biodiversity.
Output4

Component 4: Capacity building and scaling up

Numerous training sessions, capacity-building activities, and training of trainers programs were conducted. These included publishing scientific articles in international journals, organizing technical workshops, and creating technical and methodological user guides In order to ensure the sustainability of these learning tools and support the emergence of a community of experts in ecological monitoring of waterbirds, the RESSOURCE Project is developing a free online Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) titled "Waterbirds census and identification in North Africa and the Sahel – How and for What Purposes?", featuring over 35 hours of learning divided into six modules.   

Legal Hub

Country legal hubs are a user-friendly point of access to a comprehensive set of data and analysis on the statutory legal frameworks relating to sustainable wildlife management.

Publications

Videos

Wetlands and waterbirds conservation in Senegal
09/02/2021

Every year, millions of water birds migrate from Europe to Africa to winter in the Sahelian wetlands. These wetlands, which are essential for local...

Astou – A young Senegalese conservationist and bird enthusiast
25/11/2019

Astou is a young passionate conservationist from Senegal. Every year millions of water birds migrate from Europe to winter in the wetlands of the Senegal...

Preserving wetlands with white water lilies
18/11/2019

Experimental cultivation of water lily in the Senegal River delta is one of the RESSOURCE Project flagship initiatives. This engaging nature-friendly...

Assane – An inspiring Senegalese conservationist
03/10/2019

Discover how Assane actively contributes to migratory waterbirds conservation in Senegal. Wetlands in Senegal are a critical habitat for million’s of...

Conserving wetlands and migratory water birds in Senegal
14/05/2019

Meet Astou, Assane, Bruno and Issa, inspiring individuals who are working to conserve wetlands and migratory waterbirds in Senegal. Every year millions...

Supported by

Consortium partners

ACP logo     European Union logo     FFEM logo  AFD logo  
FAO logo       CIFOR-ICRAF logo           WCS logo

 

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