Geography
Wildlife
Introduction:
The
Gambia has 7 national parks and nature reserves, 1 community wildlife
reserve (Bolong Fenyo), 66 forest
parks and 1 Ramsar site. In total they represent about 3.5 per
cent of the country's total land area which is roughly 38,000
ha. The protected areas and their dates of designation in alphabetical
order are :- Abuko
Nature Reserve (105 ha) 1916, Baobolon
Wetland Reserve (1996) 22,000 ha., Kiang West
National Park (1987) 11,000 ha., Niumi
National Park (1986) 4,940 ha., River
Gambia National Park (1978) 570 ha., and the Tanji
Karinti Bird Reserve (1993) 612 ha. In order to protect the
biodiversity in these areas only some selected reserves are open
to the public at large. Enquire with your hotel or tour guide.
There is also an increasing movement for community or privately
managed eco nature reserves such as the Brufut Woods Community
Project which is basically a bird sanctuary, Kunkilling Forest
Park,
Makasutu Cultural Forest, Tumani Tenda, Kahlenge &
Bama Kuno, and Pirang
Forest National Park with its large population of monkeys
such as Green vervets, Hussard, Guinea baboons and the Colobus
Badius.
Background:
The protected area policy dates back to 1916 when Abuko was given
government protection as a water catchment location.
The new forestry policy, under the Department
of Parks, was developed between 1995 to 2005, aims to increase
the total land area of managed forests to 30% of the total land
area of The Gambia and that 75%. It also aims to develop 17,000
hectares of forest park and put 200,000ha of land under community
forest management. Part of the strategy is to ensure that 75%
of forests are protected and managed in line with forest management
principles.
List
of Forest Parks in Gambia |
|
|
Bama Kuno |
Konowo |
Bankuba |
Kumadi |
Belei Forest |
Kunkilling |
Berikolon |
Kusaywa |
Bijilo Forest |
Kusum |
Brikama |
Lohen |
Dobo |
Madina Demba |
Faba |
Marike |
Finto Manereg |
Mutaro Kunda |
Furnya |
Nianimaru |
Gambissara |
Nyanberi |
Hela Kunda |
Nyassang |
Jalabiro |
Nymbai |
Jumba Yaka |
Pakala |
Jundala |
Sabi Forest |
Kabafita |
Salagi |
Kahi Badi |
Si-Kunda |
Kahlenge (Katilenge) |
Sibi Kuroto Demba |
Kaolang |
Tambajang |
Kiberi |
|
|
|
Attractions
Resorts
Abuko
Nature Reserve
Ballabu
Conservation
Bama Kuno Forest
Bao
Bolong Wetland
Bijilo Forest
Park
Bolong Fenyo
Kiang West
Kunkilling
Forest Park
Makasutu
Culture Forest
Niumi
National Park
Pirang
Forest
River Gambia
Park (Baboon Islands)
Tanbi Wetlands
Tanji
Bird Reserve
Tumani
Tenda
|