Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary

	Protected Area
	Park Authority: Direction de parcs Nationaux du Sénégal Headquarters: Dakar-Fann B.P. 5135 Tel: 2219638706/2218322309 (Issa SIDIBE) Fax: (221) 832 23 11 E-mail: dpn@sentoo.sn Area: 160 km2 Region: Saint-Luis (Senegal) Established in: 1971 and 1975 CAMPEMENT LE NJAGABAAR Djoudj B.P. 5435 (221) 9638708 - (221) 6564790 - lenjagabaar@yahoo.fr
	The Bird Sanctuary
	Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, a few km from Saint-Louis - one of the biggest colonial towns of the Country - is one of the most important bird sanctuaries of the world. From November to April, about three million birds of over three hundred species pass: greater flamingos, pelicans, herons, spoonbills. Concealed behind a curtain of red, gentle, and undulated dunes, the mouth of the river Senegal opens: six thousand hectares of lakes and canals, fords and sand banks offer shelter to ducks, flamingos, and cormorants. Hordes of fighting stilts and teams of herons meet in these places soaked and nourished by the river flood. The first area in the south of Sahara desert, Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary is essential to welcome in winter the European migratory birds. Since 1971 the Park has been recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Site.
	The Twinning Project
	The cooperation project of Ente Parchi Lago Maggiore aims at creating a synergy with other similar ongoing local projects. For instance, on the initiative of the NGO L.V.I.A., there is a cooperative formed by women engaged in plastic recycling activities, since plastic is a major scourge in the urbanized areas of Senegal. Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, World Heritage Site (UNESCO), could house the operational headquarters of the bird-ringing station that the international cooperation project with Ente Parchi Lago Maggiore aims at creating. The operators of the Park Authority did also get in touch with another cooperative formed by women, to which the management and tourist promotion of Popenguine Reserve has been entrusted. Popenguine Nature Reserve Near Dakar, it is one of the wetlands that could be enhanced within the project. Guembeul Nature Reserve The Dama Gazelle is a species subject to targeted reintroduction activities. Also the fauna management, which represents an important problem above all for economic reasons, deserves attention within the decentralized cooperation projects. Delta du Saloum National Park Wetland covering over 76,000 hectares. Thanks to a casual meeting with a technician working in this protected area, the cooperation project of Ente Parchi Lago Maggiore was born.