Riviere Sangha située en République Centrafricaine. 05/11/09; Sangha-Mbaéré; 275,000 ha; 02°40'N 016°15'E. National Park, Nature Reserve. The site is noted for the presence of large areas of dense periodically flooded forests with rivers, marshes and lakes found within. It is recognized for the role it plays in the maintenance of biological diversity through the support of various flora such as raphia, also used in the local production of raphia wine, and fauna such as elephants, chimpanzees, hyenas, freshwater crabs and turtles amongst many others. It is also responsible for flood control and prevention in the area; these are important hydrological values that ensure that the income generating activities that the local communities are dependent upon are minimally affected during the rainy season. These include fishing, hunting, safari tourism, forestry, subsistence agriculture, diamond mining and scientific research. As a result of the mining activities occurring upstream of the site, a major concern is the siltation of the river, leading to a decrease of areas available for fish to take refuge during the dry season. The site is included in a cross-border project with Cameroon and Congo, which involves carrying out joint patrols for poachers in the Dzanga Sangha Special Reserve'. Ramsar site no. 1889. Most recent RIS information: 2009.