GM005
Tanji River (Karinti) Bird Reserve


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2022 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List1 Season Year(s) Size IBA criteria
Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii VU winter 2022 80 individuals A1
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia LC non-breeding 2022 234 individuals B3a

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2022) may differ.


IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2022. The most recent assessment (2022) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2022 very unfavourable high low
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
no population good

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species Reference Actual Units % remaining Result
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 523 17 individuals 4 very unfavourable
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei 200 33 individuals 17 very unfavourable
Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii 404 80 individuals 20 very unfavourable
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 6,500 309 individuals 5 very unfavourable
Little Tern Sternula albifrons 1,500 99 individuals 7 very unfavourable
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 2,100 234 individuals 12 very unfavourable
Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 2,000 25 individuals 2 very unfavourable
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus 5,100 141 individuals 3 very unfavourable
A4iii Species group - waterbirds 20,000 938 individuals 5 very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Human intrusions and disturbance happening now majority/most of area/population (50-90%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Biological resource use 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 areas Management plan Other 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site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species) A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive Some limited conservation initiatives are in place low

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
1993 Tanji Bird Reserve 82

Land use

Land use % of IBA
forestry -
hunting -
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Tanji River (Karinti) Bird Reserve (Gambia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/tanji-river-(karinti)-bird-reserve-iba-gambia on 22/11/2024.