Introduction:
 The
wilderness site of the Tanbi Wetland Complex, in Gambia,
is located just on the southern entrance to the mouth
of the River
Gambia. It covers a total area of about 6,000
hectares (of which mangroves make up 4,800 hectares)
and its widest expanse is located to the west and south
west of Banjul.
Tanbi's northern most point skirts the (Bund) Kankujeri
Road of Banjul and also includes Cape Creek. It encompasses
the fringes of the island of St. Mary at its Atlantic
Ocean side and down south east towards Lamin and Mandinari
Village. It was declared a Ramsar
site in February, 2007. This is an international convention
for the preservation of wetlands and its natural resources.
Flora &Ecosystem:
 Eighty
per cent of the Tanbi Wetland Complex is composed of
forest wilderness is made up of several species of mangroves
which includes the Avicennia africana, Alder Conocarpus,
Laguncularia racemosa, Annona glabra and the Rhizophora
with the occasional Baobab
or rhun palm
standing on more solid earth. Vegetation gradually changes
to bare flats, salt marsh, and dry woodland or
grass woodland to the west and south, with agricultural
uses in the bordering zones. The natural vegetation
is laced in a patchwork of tidal creeks (bolongs),
lagoons
and estuarial saline mudflats. It plays a key role in
water retention of the area as it acts like a giant
natural sponge for rainwater and tidal river flows as
well as to stabilise the shoreline.
Human Encroachment & Activities:
The main activities in and around the complex are shrimp
fishing, vegetable gardening and rice growing. During
the dry season, a small number of Jola
women collect, roast and sell oysters harvested from
the mangroves located on the site. Firewood is
also collected from the area making it possible for
these women to burn the oysters as well as to cook their
meals.
 There
are also industrial warehouses and tourist fishing boats
offering trips along the Oyster Creek from Denton
Bridge, down south to the Daranka Bolong,
and out towards the estuary and Lamin Lodge at the Daranka
Channel.
Fauna:
Among the animals to be found on the site are small
monkeys, crocodiles, lizards as well as threatened or
endangered species associated with mangrove swamps.
These are the West African manatee, Pel’s fishing owl,
African Clawless otter, brown-necked parrot and
the Western Red Colobus. Climate change and global warming
pose a particular threat to wildlife
in the wetlands as sea levels rise.
Avifauna:
 The
number of bird species so far recorded on the site is
just over 360. Among the birdlife are the Grey-headed
Gull, Ospreys, Western Reef-egret, Sacred Ibis, Malachite
Kingfishers, Black-tailed Godwit, Blue-bellied Roller,
Caspian Tern, Pigmy Sunbird, Red-necked Falcon, Rufous
Crowned Roller, pelicans and storks.
[Geographical coordinates: 13°26’N and 16°38’W.] |
