Diawling National Park, Protected wetland near Senegal River, Mauritania
Diawling National Park is a protected area in the lower Senegal River delta with saline floodplains, marsh pools, and sand dunes. It includes three coastal lagoons and a mangrove-fringed estuarine zone where water, plants, and land meet.
The park was established in 1991 after local groups resisted its creation, worried about restrictions on their long-standing grazing and fishing rights. This conflict shaped how the park would operate and balance protection with community needs.
Local herders and fishermen use the park as a vital space for their daily work, maintaining practices passed down through generations. These activities shape how the landscape looks and functions for the communities who depend on it.
The area is primarily accessible for birdwatching and nature walks, as it is a sensitive ecosystem that needs protection. The best time to visit is during bird migration seasons when hundreds of species pass through and make the landscape come alive.
Large predators like lions vanished from the region in the 1970s, showing how dramatically wildlife has shifted there. Today it has become a refuge for other species that thrive in this particular wetland landscape.
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