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Boloma Bijagós Biosphere Reserve, Guinea-Bissau

Boloma Bijagós Biosphere Reserve is an archipelago of 88 islands located on the coast of Guinea-Bissau in western Africa. It was formed from the ancient delta of the Rio Geba and the Rio Grande.

Designation date: 1996

Networks

Regional network:  AfriMAB

Ecosystem-based network: 

  

    Description

    Map

    Surface : 101,230 ha

    • Core area(s): 101,230 ha
    • Buffer zone(s): N/A
    • Transition zone(s): N/A

    Location: N/A

    Administrative Authorities

    Institut de la Biodiversités et Aires Protégées (IBAP)
    Rue : São-Tomé, Casa Nº 6A
    C.P. 70
    Bissau

    Tel.: (245) 320 71 06/07

    Email: joao.corderio@iucn.org

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    Ecological Characteristics

    The Bijagós archipelagohas a considerable diversity of fauna.The wealth of the natural environment is mainly linked to the presence of the sea and the existence of mangroves and mud flats. The terrestrial environment includes palmgroves, littoral woodland savannahs, and semidry forests.

    A great diversity of mammals, reptiles, birds and fish are to be found. The archipelago has been recognized as the most important site in Africa for Chelonia mydas to lay their eggs, with nearly 10 000 adult females. Other protected or rare species are still relatively abundant, such as Crocodylus niloticus and Crocodylus tetraspis tetraspis, Hippopotamus amphibius, Trichechus senegalensis, Sousateuzsii, Tursiops truncatus.

    Every year the archipelago is visited by close on 800 000 hibernating Palaearctic waders and also nesting species of birds from colonial waters.

     

    Socio-Economic Characteristics

    Agriculture, forest exploitation, animal husbandry, fishing, shell gathering and ecological tourism are the main activities undertaken by the communities living in the islands.

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    Last updated: January 2020