Mauritania’s Banc d’Arguin connects continents along a bird migration route
Its shallow waters and tidal flats are an important refuge for migratory shorebirds.
Banc d'Arguin National Park lies on Mauritania's Atlantic coast, where desert meets shallow sea. UNESCO describes mudflats, islands and coastal waters that provide feeding and resting areas for large numbers of migratory birds.
Birds using the park link its habitats to breeding and wintering areas far beyond the country. The site also includes marine environments that support fish and other wildlife. Protecting the tidal flats matters because the food available there can help birds complete a much longer migration.