09
Apr 2009 - Brazzaville, Congo: The spirits
traditionally associated with a vital rapids
and waterfall complex on the mighty Congo
River will now have the help of international
recognition in protecting the area.
Les Rapides du Congo-Djoué,
a 2,500 hectare site not far downstream
from Republic of Congo capital Brazzaville,
was one of four African wetlands inscribed
on the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands register
of wetlands of international significance
this month.
The largest site is
the 1.525 million hectare Sangha-Nouabalé-Ndoki
wetland in the north west Republic of Congo,
a vast area of lakes, marshes, ponds and
floodplain forests on major Congo tributary
the Sangha River.
The area is significant
in regulating flood flows and providing
dry season reserves for the Congo basin
generally, is important for transport and
is habitat for a number of species of conservation
concern – including the Giant Pangolin,
chimpanzees and leopards.
The much smaller Congo-Djoué
rapides surround a natural barrage on the
Congo and major tributary Djoué which
is vital to its two largest cities, Brazzaville,
and the Democratic Republic of Congo capital
of Kinshasa.
The site is centred
on one of three forested islands: L’Ile
du Diable (Devil’s Island), traditionally
the home of spirits who not only protect
the areas but ensure good fishing, health
and influence to those initiated into their
secrets.
However, for the uninitiated,
the spirits – for which Nile crocodile or
half-human, half-fish “sirène” tokens
are venerated – can exert a malign influence.
Gilbert Madouka, of
the Ministry of Tourism and the Environment
and the Republic of Congo’s Ramsar representative,
said the area was being recognised for its
cultural as well as its environmental significance.
“The sirène and
the Nile Crocodile are revered in our area
like gods,” Madouka said.
“That is why this habitat
that houses the gods always causes fear
among the population and access to these
areas to exploit their natural resources
is often based of the traditional authorities
– which to a certain extent, diminishes
the human pressure on the area.”
.
Also declared last week were two new welcome
additions to protected wetlands in coastal
Sudan to help guard against risks posed
by over-grazing and proposed expansions
to shrimp aquaculture.
The areas are unusual
in straddling terrestrial and marine environments,
from camel breeding areas to reefs important
to endangered turtles and dugong.
WWF International's
Wetlands Programme has been supporting wetlands
conservation in the Republic of Congo since
2002.
