Country Profiles

Disclaimer

The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or any area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

(*) A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

Remark:

Please note that this country profile has been prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of information provided in the NBSAP and national reports, but has not been reviewed by the Party concerned.

Main References

NOTE: Visitors to the CBD website are advised to consult section VII of the sixth national report for updated information on the themes contained in the country profile below.

Biodiversity Facts

Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

Mauritania is a West African country located in the Sahel-Saharan region, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara. In the last 25 years, the country has experienced three long periods of drought. The agricultural sector (agriculture and livestock) contributes approximately 18% to the country’s GDP, with livestock (cattle, camels, sheeps, goats) representing 80% of this figure... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

The main threats to terrestrial ecosystems have been identified as: overgrazing, overexploitation of forest products and non-timber forest products; habitat fragmentation; poaching; climate change; bush fires; urbanization; salinization; erosion; alien invasive species; mining and oil exploitation. The main threats to coastal ecosystems have been identified as: overfishing, urbanization, poaching and climate change... More »

Measures to Enhance Implementation of the Convention

Implementation of the NBSAP

Mauritania completed its first NBSAP in 1999. The primary goal of Mauritania’s new National Biodiversity Strategy (2011-2020) is to maintain the functions of ecosystems over the long term, including their capacity to adapt and evolve in relation to environmental changes, particularly climate change and desertification processes... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Examples of actions taken that contribute to the achievement of the global targets are highlighted below, although it is indicated in the fifth national report submitted in June 2014 that the effectiveness (outcomes) of these actions to date has been weak.

The preservation and valuation of natural resources and the promotion of renewable energy sources are current national priorities... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

Other current national priorities include matters such as: sectoral reform focused on human, material and financial resources; inter-sectoral matters; restructuring/institution-building (a structure for raising awareness of biodiversity has been established).

The National Action Plan for the Environment (PANE) and the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (SNDD) together define environmental policy for the country... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation

A mechanism for monitoring and reviewing implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy (2011-2020) does not exist. These issues are however addressed to a certain extent under subprogramme 1 of the National Action Plan for the Environment (PANE II) (2012-2016).

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

M. Moussa Ba

CBD Primary NFP, CHM NFP, SBSTTA NFP, Protected Areas NFP, GTI NFP, Resource Mobilization FP, GSPC NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety