Biodiversity data of the Bijagós archipelago.
Information for education, conservation and management.

About

About the biodiversity database
The Bijagós archipelago (ca total of 88 islands and islets covering nearly 10,000 km2 off the coast of Guinea-Bissau) is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot. It is one of the major habitat and nursing areas in western Africa for several species of international conservation concern: fish including many elasmobranchs, seabirds, sea turtles, marine mammals. It is the second most important wintering area for shorebirds in Africa , and a nursery area to both coastal and pelagic fish species including commercial species captured in local (artisanal) fisheries and the industrial fisheries in the wider region. The Bijagós also host extensive marine forests of animals, especially gorgonian corals and sponges, and of macroalgae and seagrasses. Marine forests provide major shelter, feeding and/or breeding sites for a wide range of marine species, including many with conservation and/or commercial interest.

This portal aims to compile, curate, integrate and make publicly available, all the biodiversity records of the bijagos, in order to inform managers, scientists and the general public.

Project Marafrica: a network monitoring, integrating and assessing marine biodiversity data along the west africa to understand, predict and mitigate climatic / oceanographic changes. Data compilation and management partners: IBAP & CIPA-INIPO Aga-Khan Foundation and FCT-Portugal and Project STM - Survi des Tortues Marines.
MAVA Foundation and PRCM.
PEW Marine Fellows
© 2023 CCMAR - Centre of Marine Sciences \\ web developed by biodiversityDataScience.
Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro.