A ground-breaking Community-led conservation project in Senegal is empowering local people to protect vital habitats for migratory birds.
Along the East Atlantic Flyway—a key migratory route for millions of birds from Europe to southern Africa—local communities in Senegal are stepping up to protect some of the region’s most important bird habitats. And in doing so, they’re improving their own lives too.
Senegal is a vital haven for birdlife, hosting more than 560 bird species, including nearly 250 migratory species that depend on its coastal wetlands, savannas, and river deltas. The country boasts several internationally recognised protected areas, such as Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary—the world’s third-largest wintering site for migratory birds—and Saloum Delta National Park, home to the largest known breeding colony of Royal Terns, with an estimated minimum of 40,000 pairs. But this rich biodiversity is increasingly under threat from expanding agriculture, rapid urbanisation, pollution, and the growing pressures of climate change.
To address this, BirdLife Partner Nature Communautés Développement (NCD) launched the AGIR Project (Support for Integrated Resource Management in Senegal) in 2022. Funded by the French Development Agency and the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO – BirdLife in France), AGIR focuses on four critical protected areas:
- Tocc Tocc Nature Reserve
- Kalissaye Nature Reserve
- Palmarin Reserve
- Kusmar Island Reserve (the largest breeding site for the Lesser Kestrel in West Africa)
These sites are not only essential for migratory and resident bird species—they also support fishing, farming, and eco-tourism for local communities.
AGIR is helping people living near these reserves take an active role in conservation. More than 100 community members, reserve managers, and civil society representatives have received training in ecological monitoring, data collection, and site management. They’ve also learned how to assess the value of ecosystem services using the TESSA Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site-based Assessment.
“These trainings have come at just the right time,” says Colonel Pathé Baldé, Manager of the Kalissaye Ornithological Reserve. “We had a pressing need for capacity building. This project has responded to this need.”
Crucially, the project also provides local teams with binoculars, telescopes, and bird identification guides to continue ecological monitoring. At Kusmar Island, bird species like the Lesser Kestrel and the Scissor-tailed Kite are now regularly monitored, helping to identify threats and guide conservation actions.
This inspiring work shows how community-led conservation can protect nature while creating better futures for people. By empowering local communities, Senegal is building a model of sustainable conservation for the entire West African region.
Read the full article on BirdLife International
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Feature Image: Aerial view of mangroves in Saloum Delta National Park. Photo by Curioso Photography
