GM005
Tanji River (Karinti) Bird Reserve


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2001 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres LC winter 1998 523 individuals A4i
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei LC winter 1998 200 individuals A4i
Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii VU winter 1998 404 individuals A1, A4i
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus LC winter 1998 6,500 individuals A4i
Little Tern Sternula albifrons LC winter 1998 1,500 individuals A4i
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia LC breeding 1997 150 breeding pairs A4i
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia LC non-breeding 1998 2,100 individuals A4i
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis LC winter 1998 2,000 individuals A4i
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus LC breeding 2000 7,360 breeding pairs A4i
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus LC non-breeding 1997 5,100 individuals A4i
A4iii Species group - waterbirds n/a breeding 2000 20,000-49,999 individuals A4iii

The current IUCN Red List category (shown above) may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2001).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2022 very unfavourable high low
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no population good

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Scientific name Common name Reference population Actual population Units % of population remaining Result
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone 523 17 individuals 4 very unfavourable
Larus genei Slender-billed Gull 200 33 individuals 17 very unfavourable
Larus audouinii Audouin's Gull 404 80 individuals 20 very unfavourable
Larus fuscus Lesser Black-backed Gull 6500 309 individuals 5 very unfavourable
Sternula albifrons Little Tern 1500 99 individuals 7 very unfavourable
Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern 2100 234 individuals 12 very unfavourable
Thalasseus sandvicensis Sandwich Tern 2000 25 individuals 2 very unfavourable
Thalasseus maximus Royal Tern 5100 141 individuals 3 very unfavourable
Species group - waterbirds A4iii 20000 938 individuals 5 very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Biological resource use fishing & harvesting aquatic resources - intentional use: lg scale happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Human intrusions and disturbance recreational activities happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Human intrusions and disturbance work and other activities happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Tanji Bird Reserve 612 protected area overlaps with site 500

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
forestry -
hunting -
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Tanji River (Karinti) Bird Reserve. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/tanji-river-(karinti)-bird-reserve-iba-gambia on 19/03/2024.