The Guinean mangroves are a coastal ecoregion

Ecoregion

An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...

 of mangrove

Mangrove

Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...

 swamps in rivers and estuaries near the ocean of West Africa from Senegal

Senegal

Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...

 to Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...

.

Location and description

Guinean mangroves can be found: in the Saloum River

Saloum River

The Saloum River rises about 105 kilometers east of Kaolack, Senegal, and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The significant Saloum Delta is located at its mouth, which is protected as Saloum Delta National Park. The river basin lies within the Kingdom of Saloum....

 and Casamance

Casamance

Casamance is the area of Senegal south of The Gambia including the Casamance River. It consists of Basse Casamance and Haute Casamance...

 deltas in Senegal; in the lower Gambia River basin; much of the coast of Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau

The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....

, including the Cacheu and Mansoa Rivers; across the border in northern Guinea

Guinea

Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...

; and much of the coast of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...

 including the Sherbro River. Mangroves thrive on flat coastal inlets and estuaries where the ocean tides wash warm salt water high upriver, in this ecoregion as far as 100 km, for example in the Cacheu River of Guinea-Bissau.

Flora

The mangroves have a varied composition with Rhizophora

Rhizophora

Rhizophora is a genus of tropical mangrove trees, sometimes collectively called true mangroves. The most notable species is the Red Mangrove but some other species and a few natural hybrids are known. Rhizophora species generally live in intertidal zones which are indundated daily by the ocean...

, Laguncularia racemosa

Laguncularia racemosa

Laguncularia racemosa is a species of flowering plant in the leadwood tree family, Combretaceae...

 and Conocarpus erectus growing up to 10m tall among larger areas of Rhizophora and Avicennia

Avicennia

Avicennia is a genus of flowering plants currently placed in the bear's breeches family, Acanthaceae. It contains mangrove trees, which occur in the intertidal zones of estuarine areas and are characterized by aerial roots. Species of Avicennia occur worldwide south of the Tropic of Cancer.The...

.

Fauna

Mangrove swamps are important feeding grounds for fish, birds and animals. Marine wildlife includes oysters and shrimps. Mammals found here include the African manatee

African Manatee

The African manatee , also known as the West African manatee or seacow, is a species of manatee and is the most endangered of the four species of sirenians. Scientists think they are most similar to West Indian manatees...

. Birds in these wet habitats include Goliath Heron

Goliath Heron

The Goliath Heron is a very large wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller numbers in Southwest and South Asia.-Description:This is the world's largest heron...

, Purple Heron

Purple Heron

The Purple Heron is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Asia. The European populations are migratory, wintering in tropical Africa; the more northerly Asian populations also migrate further south within Asia...

, Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

The Cattle Egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the Western Cattle Egret and the Eastern Cattle Egret...

, Striated Heron

Striated Heron

The Striated Heron, Butorides striata, also known as Mangrove Heron, Little Heron or Green-backed Heron, is a small heron. Striated Herons are mostly non-migratory and noted for some interesting behavioral traits. Their breeding habitat is small wetlands in the Old World tropics from west Africa to...

, Western Reef Heron

Western Reef Heron

The Western Reef Heron, Egretta gularis, also known as the Western Reef Egret, is a medium-sized heron. It occurs mainly on the coasts in tropical west Africa, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and east to India...

, Greater Flamingo

Greater Flamingo

The Greater Flamingo is the most widespread species of the flamingo family. It is found in parts of Africa, southern Asia , and southern Europe...

, Lesser Flamingo

Lesser Flamingo

The Lesser Flamingo is a species in the flamingo family of birds that resides in Africa and in southern Asia...

, African Spoonbill

African Spoonbill

The African Spoonbill is a long-legged wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. It lives in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water and...

, and African Sacred Ibis.

Threats and preservation

Mangrove habitats are under threat as trees are cut down for timber and firewood or to clear land for agriculture including rice farming. In southern Senegal for example efforts are being made to replant them. Urban areas near the mangroves include the Gambian capital, Banjul

Banjul

-Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport...

 and the Guinea-Bissau capital Bissau

Bissau

Bissau is the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. The city's borders are conterminous with the Bissau Autonomous Sector. In 2007, the city had an estimated population of 407,424 according to the Instituto Nacional de Estatística e Censos...

. National parks in the region include Saloum Delta National Park

Saloum Delta National Park

Saloum Delta National Park or Parc National du Delta du Saloum in Senegal is a 76,000 - hectare national park in Senegal. Established in 1976, it is situated within the Saloum Delta at the juncture of the Saloum River and the North Atlantic....

 and Basse Casamance National Park

Basse Casamance National Park

Located near Oussouye in Ziguinchor, Basse Casamance National Park is one of six national parks in Senegal. It is currently closed.-Characteristics:It encompasses an area of 5000 hectares.The main biotopes are Guinean forests and savannah woodlands....

 in Senegal, Niumi National Park

Niumi National Park

Niumi National Park is a national park in The Gambia.-General information:The Niumi National Park occupies the coastal strip of The Gambia north of the river. The park is approximately 4,940 ha in extent. Apart from being an important fish breeding ground, it constitutes one of the last untouched...

 in Gambia, and Tarafes de Cacheu Natural Park in Guinea-Bissau. The Saloum delta can also be accessed from the village of Foundiougne

Foundiougne Department

-Economy:Foundiougne is a main hub on the Sine-Saloum river in the Fatick Region of Senegal. Its a popular launch pad for eco-tours to see the abundant mangroves along the river. A ferry crosses the river at set times throughout the day transporting locals and tourists alike...

in Senegal.

External links

• Guinean mangroves (World Wildlife Fund)