Ecological and socio-economic assessment in The Gambia: Towards the active management of Tanji-Karanti Bird Reserve

Tanji-Karanti Bird Reserve (TBR) is a 610 ha protected area in The Gambia, a small nation in West Africa. Similar to other protected areas in the country, active management of TBR has been limited due to a paucity of resources and capacity, and has occurred without the participation of local communities. Management is necessary, however, because the ecological integrity of TBR may be threatened due to the activities of its stakeholders. In light of this situation, this research was designed to conduct a preliminary assessment of ecological and socio-economic dynamics of the reserve. TBR's vegetation was surveyed by means of six transects and four rapid surveys. Further, former uses of the reserve by the community of Brufut were documented along with the perceptions of some villagers towards TBR. Study results were used to develop recommendations for the management of the reserve.;It was determined that the community of Brufut held customary tenure of the land on which TBR is located and formerly used the reserve for slash-and-burn agriculture. As a result of historic burning, TBR consists primarily of shrubby, secondary growth. While there does not appear to be widespread local extinction in the reserve, mature trees may be declining in abundance due to local resource collection and a lack of regeneration. Furthermore, study participants expressed resentment towards TBR because they were not involved in the establishment of the reserve and, as TBR was named after another village. Participants agreed unanimously, however, that they would like to become active in reserve management. Because the long-term sustainability of TBR requires local support, it is recommended that a process be initiated to enable Brufut to participate in the management of the reserve.