Plaines d'inondation des Bahr Aouk et Salamat

Plaines d'inondation des Bahr Aouk et Salamat. 01/05/06; Salamat, Bahr Koh; 4,922,000 ha; 10°45'N 020°33'E. Parc National. One of the world's largest Ramsar sites, a complex of floodplains, hills, a lake, rivers and ponds located in a natural depression at the border with the Central Africa Republic. The site plays a very important role for the surrounding wildlife, providing breeding grounds for several migratory waterbirds and supporting hippos, leopards, elephants and different antelope species. It also is a spawning and nursery ground for several fish families, and plays a role in flood control, groundwater recharge, sediment trapping and chemical regulation of the waters. Fishing is an important socio-economic activity, with annual catches amounting to 15,000 tonnes; the area is also a renowned grazing ground, and different crops are grown according to the habitat type. Local trees are used for medicinal purposes, firewood and fruit. Tourism in the Zakouma National Park and hunting concessions can potentially be further exploited. The main threats to the site arise from poaching, oil exploration, over-grazing, illegal fires and contamination by pesticides. An environmental education project is taking place in the schools, while awareness-raising and training in participatory management is being carried out with the local communities. One of the pilot projects in the framework of the GEF Lake Chad Basin project is taking place within the site. Ramsar site no. 1621. Most recent RIS information: 2006.

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