Banc d'Arguin National Park

Banc d’Arguin National Park is a coastal and marine protected area on Mauritania’s Atlantic coast, designated to conserve its extensive tidal flats, sandbanks and islands that are vital for migratory and breeding birds. The park is one of West Africa’s most important bird habitats and includes sandbars, intertidal mudflats and shallow coastal waters.

The park was established by Mauritanian decree in 1976 and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989 for its outstanding birdlife and marine ecosystems. It supports large populations of shorebirds, terns, flamingos and other waterfowl, particularly during the northern hemisphere winter and spring migrations.

Traditional Imraguen fishing communities live along the park’s coastline and have historically harvested resources with small-scale methods adapted to the local environment; park management seeks to balance conservation with the livelihoods of these communities.

Geographically the park lies along Mauritania’s Atlantic littoral in the Dakhlet Nouadhibou region, incorporating a chain of islands and shallow coastal waters that are influenced by upwelling and nutrient-rich currents, making the area highly productive for marine life.

• Protection status: Established in 1976 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989 for its exceptional birdlife and coastal ecosystems.
• Wildlife and people: The park contains extensive mudflats, sandbanks and islands that support millions of migratory waders and seabirds, and traditional Imraguen fishing communities still operate within the park.

What to See #

• Tidra Island: Tidra Island - one of the larger islands within the park that serves as important nesting ground for seabirds and is frequented by migratory shorebirds.