 
The Gambia's
concern for the environment and in particular conservation
dated back to the 1977 Banjul Declaration, a special
statement setting out the country's commitment to
conservation. It reflected on the disappearing of wildlife
spieces as well as the conservation of the remaining fauna
and flora from further destruction.
In April 1994, indigenous
Gambian youths concerned with the preservation of the
country's flora and fauna also formed West African Bird
Study Association (WABSA).
This site is intended to
provide the reader with an overview of the six parks and
reserves in the country as well as giving information on
habitat types, fauna and avi-fauna found in The Gambia and
also a brief information on WABSA.
Abuto Nature Reserve
The Abuto Nature Reserve
lies on the Western side of the tarmac road from Banjul to
Yundum Airport; you will have passed by on your first day
in the country. It's an area of fairly dense woodland to
near-impenetrable jungle. Originally covering 180 acres,
it was extended to 252 in 1978 and warrants a visit to see
whet The Gambia's flora and fauna were like when the slave
raiders began calling. You could also see a chimpanzee
rehabilitation programme at work.
If slavery of humankind was
wrong, so is enslavement of animals, and Eddie and his
daughter Brewer and their kind are the William Wilberforce
and Thomas Clarkson of the animal kingdom. You might have
read her book, 'Forest Dwellers'; you probably saw the
television programme about her work "Jewel in the
sky". Well, here's where it's done.
Chimps are not the only
inhabitants. You will see several species of monkey and
baboon, civets and four lions, two of which were boon in
captivity from the parents given by the British
Government. Also present are the antelopes of the savannah
and the crocodiles of the river-plus scores of bird
species.
You should calculate up to
two hours minimum in the reserve, following the trails
through several kinds of natural vegetation, including
swamps and pools created by damming the Lamin creek.
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