SAILING FOR MANGROVES
Second year of expedition on the Gambia River to study the mangrove ecosystem
Onboard missions
With the Fleur de Passion sailboat, a traditional 33-metre ketch flying the Swiss flag, Pacifique’s mission is to explore the Gambia River along the following lines:
- Academic cooperation between the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, Swansea University, UK, and the GREAT Institute, The Gambia, to train new generations of Gambian and Swiss students in coastal and maritime scientific research.
- To study the Gambian mangrove, a little-studied ecosystem, by gathering scientific information, in particular on its state of health, through water and sediment sampling campaigns using measuring equipment on board the Fleur de Passion sailboat.
- Improve overall understanding of the role of mangroves in the context of global warming by analyzing greenhouse gas emissions, notably CO2 and methane, captured and originating from mangroves.
- Encourage artists to come on board and tell the story of the expedition in a sensitive way. The drawings and texts are published in the “Sillages” publication. This mission is an important part of Pacifique’s awareness-raising missions.”
A multidisciplinary expedition
Since 2015, Pacifique has been encouraging Swiss and local artists to come aboard its sailing ships.
Through “Sillages”, a poetic and drawn publication published annually for 5 years, Pacifique aims to raise readers’ awareness of contemporary environmental issues through the prism of art.
In 2023, during the Gambia expedition, two artists – Marfa Indoukaeva and Matthieu Berthod – sketched and drew Gambian landscapes. The works can be seen in number 3 of “Sillages”, published on December 1, 2023.
More information at https://pacifique.ch/en/art-publications/
Event at UNIGE
Following the first year of the expedition, a film and round-table discussion were held on November 6, 2023 at the University of Geneva. The film retraces the first year of the Mauritius expedition.
Produced and edited by Pascal Baumgartner.
Duration
The mission runs from January 8 to 21, 2024 on the Gambia River
Methodology
- Water/soil/air sampling campaign
- Launch and debriefing conference at the end of the mission in Banjul
- Raising awareness through drawings in the “Sillages” publication
Parcours prévisionnel du voilier Fleur de Passion sur le fleuve Gambie
Partners
The project is being carried out in partnership with the University of Geneva (UNIGE), the GREAT Institute Gambia, and Swansea University in United Kingdom.
During the mission, some 15 Gambian students will be taking part in the expedition.
Project leaders
The “Sailing for Mangroves” project is a new mission emerging from the partnership between Pacifique and the University of Geneva.
This mission directly echoes the “Arctic Change” and “Winds of change” programs, innovative pilot projects for monitoring greenhouse gases at the ocean surface developed by Dr. Daphne Donis and Prof. Daniel F. McGinnis of the F.-A. Forel Department of Environmental and Water Sciences (DEFSE) at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva.
They have been partners of the foundation since 2015.
Prof. Daniel F. McGinnis
University of Geneva
Mrs. Marion Cherrak
Scientific director of Pacifique
Mrs. Maiyai Taal Hocheimy
Founder, Director of GREAT Institute
Prof. Kam Tang
Swansea University
In the Bintang Bolong riverbed
Among the mangroves With their feet in the bed of the Bitang Bolong river, the scientific team led by Prof. Daniel McGinnis and [...]
End of 2nd session
End of session for the 2nd GREAT Institute group For two days, 10 new students trained to take samples in the field to [...]
A first day of sampling
Fleur de Passion begins its journey up the river Successful first day of sampling on the Gambia River. A team of 9 Gambian [...]
Kick-off “Sailing for mangroves” expedition
The "Sailing for Mangroves" expedition is starting! Final preparations in Banjul for the team led by Maiyai Taal Hocheimy from the GREAT Institute, [...]