Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
Diawling National Park, established in 1991, is located in southwestern Mauritania near the border with Senegal. The park is part of the larger Senegal River Delta and covers an area of approximately 40,000 acres. It's a crucial habitat for a diverse range of fauna and flora, especially waterbirds, such as flamingos, pelicans, and a variety of ducks. The wetland ecosystem, fed by the Senegal River, supports an intricate network of marshes, floodplains, and dunes, providing a vital stopover for migratory birds along their trans-African routes. Historically, the area faced ecological decline due to human activities like dam construction upstream, which altered natural flooding patterns. Efforts have since been made to rehabilitate the park, making it a prominent site for both environmental recovery and research. Visitors to Diawling can enjoy birdwatching, guided nature walks, and exploring the resilient landscapes that define this essential part of the West African ecological corridor.
