Data Zone
Country/territory: Mali
IBA criteria met: A4i, A4iii (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 300 hectares (3.00 km2)
Site description (2001 baseline)
The Mare de Gossi is a semi-permanent wetland in central Mali, to the east of the Inner Delta of the Niger, between the towns of Douentza and Gao, some 3 km south-west of the town of Gossi. It is situated within the rocky Gourma plain, along the valley of a seasonal watercourse, and is isolated from the drainage system of the Niger river.
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. In addition, sixty Marmaronetta angustirostris were recorded at this site in 1972, but this is thought unlikely to have been anything other than an exceptional occurrence. Aerial surveys in January 1984 recorded a total of 25,800 wildfowl (Anatidae).
Non-bird biodiversity: The site is adjacent to the Douentza Elephant Reserve and is used by Loxodonta africana (EN) during the dry season.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mare de Gossi (Mali). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mare-de-gossi-iba-mali on 23/12/2024.