AFRICA ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK Past, present and future perspectives

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TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY IN WESTERN AFRICA

The countries of Western Africa have responded to the problems of habitat loss by placing natural areas under protection. However, the number and size of protected areas in Western Africa varies from country to country (see Table 2b.16). In 1999, Burkina Faso and Senegal had over 10 per cent of their land area under national protection, whereas in Guinea and Guinea-Bissau this was less than one per cent, although they do have marine protected areas (World Bank 2001a).

Table 2b.16 Nationally protected areas in Western Africa

Terrestrial Marine Country Number Area (000 ha) % land area Number   Benin 2 778 6.9   Burkina Faso 12 2 855 10.4 1 Côte d'Ivoire 11 1 986 6.2 3 Gambia 6 23 2.0 5 Ghana 10 1 104 4.6   Guinea 3 164 0.7 1 Guinea Bissau 0 0 0.0 2 Liberia 1 129 1.2   Mali 13 4 532 3.7   Mauritania 9 1 746 1.7 5 Niger 6 9 694 7.7   Nigeria 27 3 021 3.3   Senegal 12 2 181 11.1 7 Sierra Leone 2 82 1.1   Togo 9 429 7.6 1 Total 123 28 724 68.2 25

Data not available for Cape Verde Source:World Bank 2001a

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