The Senegal Bird Atlas is an initiative of the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, with the assist of the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbird Action Plan (AEMLAP). The challenge is a primary for a French talking nation in Africa and an integral a part of the Africa Bird Atlas Project.
The Senegal Bird Atlas challenge was launched on the Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar on November twentieth, 2023. The launch introduced collectively numerous stakeholders together with Cheikh Anta Diop University, Switzerland Ornithological Institute, Senegal National Parc Direction (DPN), Senegal Community Marine Protected Areas Department (DAMCP), Nature Communauté et Développement (BirdLife Partner in Senegal), Wetlands International Africa, Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux(LPO), Senegal Ecological Monitoring Center (CSE), Senegal Department of Water and Forests, Hunting and Soil Conservation (DEFCCS) and the University Gaston Berger of Saint-Louis (UGB).
The Senegal Bird Atlas is an initiative of the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, with the assist of the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbird Action Plan (AEMLAP). The challenge is a primary for a French talking nation in Africa and an integral a part of the Africa Bird Atlas Project.
Hooded, Eurasian Griffon, Rupell’s Griffon and White-backed Vultures, Senegal, copyright Yeray Seminario
Africa boasts nice avian range, with greater than 2400 chook species, together with greater than 1300 species in West Africa. Senegal’s geographical location presents a range of ecosystems which are necessary for the conservation of biodiversity, significantly birds, starting from seabirds to forest birds and savannah birds.
The challenge will likely be developed in collaboration with native stakeholders reminiscent of the assorted departments of the Ministry of the Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, civil society associations, ornithologists’ golf equipment, protected space eco-guards and ecotourism guides, in addition to worldwide organizations.
According to Dr Ngoné Diop, a analysis professor within the Department of Animal Biology at Cheikh Anta Diop University and co-initiator of the challenge, “an Atlas of African Birds already exists”. She provides, “this is a major milestone as previously, the African Bird Atlas has only profiled English-speaking countries e.g., South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. This is the first bird Atlas for a Francophone country.”
After the workshop of Senegal Bird Atlas challenge, Dr Yvette Diallo, East Atlantic Flyway Conservation Officer at BirdLife International expects the general public to affix in. “For me, this is the major challenge of this project. Over and above the involvement of stakeholders, we also need the Senegalese citizens to adopt this project, which will contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and birds in general. It will help decision-makers to restore and implement conservation measures.”.
Alain Jacot, a member of the Swiss Ornithological Institute, a associate within the challenge, spoke of the significance of such an initiative to preserve species and the habitats by which they hibernate. “In this motion plan, we’re specializing in the prevention and safety of endangered species. We’re looking for out the place these birds are going. And to try this, we want monitoring and atlas initiatives the place individuals exit and do chook counts.“
“Senegal has great ornithological potential. The successful completion of this Atlas project will increase knowledge of bird species. But most importantly, it will enable us to better report on species with reliable data, so that we can better draw up conservation projects” says Moussa Ka, Nature Communauté et Développement consultant for northern Senegal.
The general purpose of this workshop is to place in place mechanisms to gather up-to-date, dependable knowledge on chook distribution for the Senegal Bird Atlas. To obtain this, the challenge will depend on environmental schooling approaches to boost consciousness of birds and conservation, bringing individuals from completely different sectors collectively and present them the significance of monitoring initiatives primarily based on citizen science. In addition to the analysis already carried out on Senegal’s avifauna, the challenge will promote the advance of chook analysis insurance policies by adopting conservation planning approaches primarily based on up-to-date, dependable knowledge.
