Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Kankossa is a large permanent wetland situated in the valley of the Karokoro, a seasonal river that flows from just south of Kiffa to meet the Senegal river between Bakel and Kayes. The river is frequently blocked by sand deposits and is morphologically highly dynamic. The surface area of the permanent wetland is 1,500 ha, but the river fills up to 50 km north of Kankossa in years of high rainfall. The vegetation of Kankossa includes a dense
Acacia nilotica woodland in the centre of the depression with
Acacia seyal,
Hyphaene thebaica,
Combretum glutinosum,
Ziziphus mauritiana and
Piliostigma reticulatum on the banks.
Nymphaea and
Echinochloa spp. typify the aquatic vegetation, while the herbaceous layer includes
Aristida mutabilis,
Dactyloctenium aegyptium and
Cenchrus biflorus. The banks of the wetland are lined with vegetable gardens, and livestock find a year-round supply of fodder and water. The catchment receives an average 200–250 mm of rain per year.
See Box for key species. Typical waterbird species include
Anas querquedula,
Anas acuta,
Dendrocygna viduata,
Dendrocygna bicolor,
Plectropterus gambensis,
Plegadis falcinellus and
Philomachus pugnax.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The growth of the town of Kankossa is increasing pressures on the wetland. The expansion of the urban area, agricultural land and gardens means a loss of natural habitat. The
Acacia nilotica woodland requires careful management to ensure adequate regeneration to replace the old trees.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kankossa (Mauritania). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kankossa-iba-mauritania on 26/12/2024.
