Full scientific report: The Gambia
Generated 13 November 2026, 04:00 from live Atlas data
Executive summary
Atlas holds 84,775 mapped features and 37,971 observations in 21 datasets. The mapped mangrove canopy covers 70,792 ha in 3,090 polygons across 1 formation classes; Mangrove dominates with 100.0% of the area. The median patch is only 0.174 ha, while patches of 10 ha or more hold 97.6% of the area. 0 ha (0.0%) lies within 10 km of the LAPSSET development footprint.
Single mapping epoch (2019). Areas are geodesic hectares recalculated from geometry.
Species & formations
| Formation | Polygons | Area (ha) | Share | Mean patch (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mangrove | 3,090 | 70,791.8 | 100.0% | 22.91 |
Fragmentation & landscape metrics
- Patches
- 3,090
- Mean / median / largest
- 22.91 / 0.174 / 10,266.7 ha
- Effective mesh size
- 2,866.7 ha
- Largest patch index
- 14.5%
- Power-law exponent α
- 1.49
Spatial clustering
Global Moran’s I = 0.011 (z = 0.4, p = 0.713). Hot-spot cells (Gi*, ≥95%): 13; cold-spot cells: 6.
| Top hot-spot cell | Polygons | Area (ha) | Gi* z |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13.3, -16.15 | 5 | 129 | 2.79 |
| 13.2, -16.15 | 25 | 215 | 2.63 |
| 13.2, -16.2 | 3 | 1,371 | 2.59 |
| 13.4, -16.25 | 22 | 99 | 2.51 |
| 13.45, -16.2 | 6 | 3,486 | 2.48 |
| 13.25, -16.15 | 15 | 2,614 | 2.47 |
Pressure: LAPSSET and villages
Mangrove ha by distance from LAPSSET
Mangrove ha by distance from villages
Data quality
| Dataset | Features | Repaired | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, The Gambia | 2,294 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, The Gambia | 3,363 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, The Gambia | 2,516 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, The Gambia | 2,002 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, The Gambia | 2,479 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, The Gambia | 3,254 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, The Gambia | 3,090 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, The Gambia | 3,063 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, The Gambia | 2,942 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, The Gambia | 3,321 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, The Gambia | 3,228 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, The Gambia | 3,464 | 0 | 100 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | 126 | 0 | 95 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | 642 | 0 | 95 |
| Dams | 2,586 | 0 | 95 |
| Districts | 6,099 | 13 | 95 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | 7,438 | 1 | 95 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | 9,759 | 0 | 95 |
| Irrigated Areas | 23,095 | 1 | 95 |
| Salt marsh (UNEP-WCMC): The Gambia | 2 | 0 | 90 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): The Gambia | 12 | 0 | 90 |
Recommendations
Datasets & sources
| Dataset | Publisher | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, The Gambia | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,294 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, The Gambia | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 3,363 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, The Gambia | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,516 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, The Gambia | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,002 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, The Gambia | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,479 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, The Gambia | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 3,254 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, The Gambia | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 3,090 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, The Gambia | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 3,063 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, The Gambia | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,942 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, The Gambia | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 3,321 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, The Gambia | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 3,228 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, The Gambia | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 3,464 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | WWF Kenya | 126 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | WWF Kenya | 642 |
| Dams | WWF Kenya | 2,586 |
| Districts | WWF Kenya | 6,099 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | WWF Kenya | 7,438 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | WWF Kenya | 9,759 |
| Irrigated Areas | WWF Kenya | 23,095 |
| Salt marsh (UNEP-WCMC): The Gambia | UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Short FT | 2 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): The Gambia | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | 12 |