20 March 2013: The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) has reported that the Government of Mali has designated three Ramsar Sites, bringing the total number of sites for this country to four, covering over four million hectares.

According to the Ramsar Secretariat, the first site, Lac Magui in the Kayes region, is a permanent freshwater lake that supports a wide range of small mammal, reptile, fish and waterbird species. The site plays a role in water retention, groundwater recharge, flood control and shoreline stabilisation, as well as in maintaining the hydrological balance of the Senegal River basin. Activities carried out on the site include agriculture, fishing and harvesting of forest products.

The second site, Lac Wegnia, a Managed Resource Protected Area in the Koulikoro region, is a complex of permanent freshwater lakes and marshes. The site supports various endangered species of flora and crocodiles, as well as small mammals waterbirds and fish. The site plays a role in flood control, groundwater recharge, water retention and water supply. Activities carried out on the site include rice farming, forest exploitation, animal rearing, arboriculture and gardening. It is threatened by poaching, overfishing, continuous deforestation, and poor agricultural techniques causing erosion and siltation.

The third site, Plaine Inondable du Sourou in the Mopti region, is a seasonal freshwater marsh that supports several fish and bird species, as well as some IUCN Red-Listed mammals. the site plays a role in flood control and groundwater recharge. Activities carried out on the site include rice farming, fishing, and wood harvesting.

Mali’s designations contribute to one of the goals contained in the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2015, which is to reach a protected area of 250 million hectares by 2015. [Ramsar Press Release]