THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA THE NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN (2015 – 2020) I TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................... V ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................................... V FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................................... V A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR....................................................................................................................... 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 5 A. NBSAP Revision Process ........................................................................................................................................ 2 B. Lessons Learnt....................................................................................................................................................... 4 C. Country Background ............................................................................................................................................. 5 Population ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 Poverty ................................................................................................................................................................. 6 D. Importance of Biodiversity to national development and poverty eradication ................................................... 7 CHAPTER ONE : BIODIVERSITY IN THE GAMBIA ........................................................................................ 9 1.1 Status of Ecosystem Biodiversity ............................................................................................................... 10 1.1.1 Wildlife/Protected Areas ........................................................................................................................... 10 A. In-Situ Conservation In Protected Areas .................................................................................................... 10 B. In-Situ Conservation Outside Protected Areas .......................................................................................... 12 C. Ex-Situ Conservation .................................................................................................................................. 12 1.1.2 FOREST BIODIVERSITY .................................................................................................................................... 13 1.1.3 WETLAND BIODIVERSITY ................................................................................................................................ 15 1.1.4 AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY ....................................................................................................................... 15 1.1.5 FISHERIES BIODIVERSITY ................................................................................................................................ 16 1.1.6 COASTAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY ........................................................................................................... 16 1.1.7 FRESH WATER BIODIVERSITY ......................................................................................................................... 17 1.2 STATUS OF SPECIES DIVERSITY .......................................................................................................................... 17 1.2.1. Terrestrial Species ......................................................................................................................................... 17 1.2.2. Freshwater Species ....................................................................................................................................... 18 1.2.3. Marine Species .............................................................................................................................................. 18 1.3 STATUS OF FUNGI SPECIES ................................................................................................................................ 18 1.5. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES ................................................................................................................................... 19 A. Education ................................................................................................................................................... 19 B. Health and Biodiversity .............................................................................................................................. 19 Reviewed NBSAP of The Gambia March 2015 Page II C. Gender and Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................ 21 D. Information, Education, and Communication ........................................................................................... 23 Challenges , gaps and opportunities ....................................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER THREE: LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK, CONVENTIONS, PROTOCOLS AND AGREEMENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 28 SYNERGIES ............................................................................................................................................................... 30 3.1 LEGAL FRAMEWORK ......................................................................................................................................... 30 3.2 INSTITUTIONAL MANDATES & CAPACITY .......................................................................................................... 32 3.2.1 Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) ............................................................................ 32 3.2.2 Department of Community Development ..................................................................................................... 33 3.2.3 Department of Livestock ................................................................................................................................ 34 3.2.4 Department of Water Resources ................................................................................................................... 35 3.2.5 National Environment Agency (NEA) ............................................................................................................. 36 3.2.6 Department of Agricultural Services (DAS) .................................................................................................... 38 3.2.7 Department of Fisheries ................................................................................................................................ 39 3.2.8 Department of Forestry ................................................................................................................................. 39 3.2.9 National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) ............................................................................................. 40 CHAPTER FOUR: CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS ....................................................................................... 41 4.1.Forest and agricultural farming ........................................................................................................................ 43 4.2.Bush fires: ......................................................................................................................................................... 43 4.3. Overgrazing: ..................................................................................................................................................... 46 4.4Fuel Wood Extraction: ....................................................................................................................................... 46 4.5 Poaching/ illegal hunting: ................................................................................................................................. 47 4.6 Over fishing of fish stocks: ................................................................................................................................ 48 4.7 Coastline Sand Mining: ..................................................................................................................................... 48 4.8. Coastal Erosion:................................................................................................................................................ 48 4.9. Pollution: .......................................................................................................................................................... 49 4.10 Invasive and Alien Species (IAS) .................................................................................................................... 49 4.12 Pathways and Spread of IAS .....................................................................................................................