Coastal preserve
Banc d'Arguin National Park
Mauritania
Where the Sahara meets the Atlantic, the mudflats and islands of Banc d'Arguin shelter one of the greatest gatherings of shorebirds on Earth.
Desert and sea
Sand dunes, shallow coastal waters, islands and extensive mudflats meet here on the coast of West Africa. The park also protects some of the most pristine seagrass beds on the planet and rich fishing waters.
Why it matters for birds
More than two million waders from northern Europe, Siberia and Greenland spend the winter on the park's mudflats. Red knots, bar-tailed godwits, plovers and flamingos gather in vast numbers.
It is also a major breeding site. Tens of thousands of pairs of waterbirds, including white pelicans, cormorants and several species of terns, nest on the sandbanks and islands. Together they form the largest waterbird colonies in West Africa.
A light human touch
Human impact remains low. Only a small local community, the Imraguen, may fish inside the park, using traditional methods and sail-powered boats. Motor boats are not permitted.
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