Climate change, invasive plants and agribusiness are threatening the wetland sanctuaries of Djoudj National Park and the Trois Marigots in the Senegal Delta.
Birds have no borders, said Assane, a conservationist working in the area.
He participates in an annual census of millions of birds facing threats from habitat loss and hunters on their journey between Europe and Senegal.
The birds find sanctuary in Senegal’s national parks, which generate income for conservation activities through tourism.
Astou also participates in Senegal’s migratory bird conservation efforts, which she considers an awe-inspiring experience.
She participates in the annual International Waterbird Census in Djoudj National Park, encouraging other young African women to discover the beauty and importance of nature.
The work, which encourages local communities to engage in the sustainable conservation of resources by monitoring bird populations, is funded through the RESSOURCE project by the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) and the European Union. It is part of the Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme in Egypt, Mali, Senegal, Sudan and Chad.
In the following videos, the conservationists describe their experiences working with the birds in Senegal’s biodiverse wetlands.
