Boé Sector

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West Africa > Guinea-Bissau > Boé Sector

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Summary

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  • Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in the Boé Sector.
  • It is estimated that approximately 1500 individuals occur at the site.
  • The chimpanzee population trend is estimated to be stable.
  • This site has a total size of 3,287.8 km².
  • Key threats to chimpanzees are habitat conversion, disturbance by cattle-owners settling at key-sites for chimpanzee conservation and a bauxite mining concession.
  • The following conservation activities were conducted by Chimbo Foundation: involve the local community in primate research/monitoring and conservation management (patrolling and bush-fire management); integrate religion/local cultural assets into conservation; conservation awareness; education, research on biology and ecosystem management.
  • Part of Dulombi National Park and Boé National Park lie in Boé Sector.


Site characteristics

The Boé Sector is located in the tropical dry forest climate zone of south-eastern Guinea Bissau. The climate is tropical, with an annual mean temperature of 28°C and annual rainfall of c. 1,600-2,100 mm. Daytime temperatures range between 22-39°C while nighttime temperatures vary from 12-23°C. It hardly ever rains from December to April and it is very wet from June through October (Wit & Reijntjes 1986 - 1989). The area is sparsely populated, with around 12,000 people living in 85 villages, and is still relatively well preserved. The region has contiguous habitats and it is considered to be a very important area for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in West Africa (Meer I, van der 2014). The Boé Sector covers 3,287.8 sq. km (Wit & Reijntjes 1986 - 1989). The Boé Sector is the most north-westerly part of the Fouta Djallon massive in Guinea. The south eastern part of Dulombi National Park is the part of the Boé Sector west of the river Corubal. The part of Boé National Park south of the river Corubal lies in the Boé Sector. The landscape of Boé consists of flat plateaus of lateritic rock with open savanna vegetation (Meer I. van der 2014). Relatively narrow river valleys with steep slopes are found within these plateaus. Further away from the rivers, where somewhat deeper soils remain on the rocky plateau, old secondary and slightly disturbed forests may be found (Wit & Reijntjes 1986 - 1989). In the valleys, gallery forests are growing, but most of these have been converted to cashew tree plantations or cropland in a rotation of 1 year upland rice and 7 years fallow. In these forests, under constant water supply, the greatest species diversity is found. Furthermore, the heads of these rivers are usually designated as a sacred place by the people and thus have a low human activity (White & Edwards 2000, Koops et al. 2012, van der Meer 2014, Ramachandra 2017, Alberda 2020, Sloendregt 2021). Cultivated land, such as cashew tree plantations and cultivated fields of mostly rice with some peanuts, maize, sorghum, and millet are expanding steadily. Cattle-owners have been coming to Boé in recent decades, often making camp near key-ecological sites such as the sacred forests surrounding the springs.


Table 1. Basic site information for Boé Sector

Species 'Pan troglodytes verus
Area 3,287.8 km²
Coordinates Lat: 11.752282 , Lon: -14.008097
Type of site Non-protected area
Habitat types Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, Savanna, Agricultural land
Type of governance

IUCN habitat categories Site designations

Ape status

The first estimate for the area, based on 29 non-systematically placed points, is 710 individuals with a density of 2.4 individuals/km2 (Serra et al. 2007). A chimpanzee nest survey along the Quebube River found 1,800 nests in an area of 10 sq. km (Hoogveld 2013). Surveys based on line transects (Wenceslau 2014 and Binczik 2017) estimated densities between 2.02 and 0.77 ind./ km², depending on the exact location. A survey based on the random encounter model calculated a density of 2.24 ind./ km² (Meer, D. van der 2016). Based on these research data Chimbo Foundation estimates that at least between 1,000 and 1,500 western chimpanzees live in the Boé Sector. The part of the Boé Sector north of the river Corubal (the south eastern part of Dulombi National Park) can only be crossed by chimpanzees towards the end of the dry season. Based on observations and data collected between 2011 and 2016 in the territories of Djifim and Paramanguel, the average group size was about 7, but groups up to 19 animals have been observed. It is likely that at least 25 to 30 chimpanzees are present in the territories of Djifim and Paramanguel (Wit, P. & Goedmakers, A. pers. comm. 2022). See also Dulombi National Park. .


Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Boé Sector

Species Year Occurrence Encounter or vistation rate (nests/km; ind/day) Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) Abundance estimate (95% CI) Survey area Sampling method Analytical framework Source Comments A.P.E.S. database ID
Pan troglodytes verus 2006 2.4 710 Boé Sector Interviews Serra, Silva & Lopes 2007 29 non-systematically placed points
Pan troglodytes verus 2013 11.37 2.02 (0.75-5.45) 44 (16-120) Southeastern part of Boé Sector (Ronde Hill, gallery forests of Paramaka and Jabere rivers) Line transects & recces Wenceslau 2014 Line transect total survey effort: 100 km; Camera traps identified at least 22 individuals, reconnaissance walk
Pan troglodytes verus 2016 3.519 0.77 (0.45-1.34) 80 (46-140) Béli village in Boé Sector (104 km²) Line transects Binczik et al. 2017 Total survey effort: 39 km, based on the results 1,465-4,415 chimpanzees are estimated for the whole Boé Sector
Pan troglodytes verus 2016 2.24 24.0 Around Quebube river 20 km² Camera trap Meer, D. van der. 2016 18 camera traps placed in a grid with in total 8,136 hours (average of 452 hour per camera)
Pan troglodytes verus 2011-2016 25-30 Territories of Djifilm and Paramanguel, approx. 80 sq. km Other Wit, P. & Goedmakers, A. pers. comm. 2022 Based on patrols by community members.

Threats

Chimpanzees in the Boé Sector in Guinea-Bissau are mainly threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation. Forests being cleared by farmers for shifting cultivation practices, mainly for rice and maize farming and cashew plantations (Wit & Reijntjes 1989). The gallery forests and intact tree populations remain almost exclusively on steep slopes of river valleys with difficult access and at sacred sites around springs. Due to the high population growth in Guinea-Bissau (annual rate 2.44 %), new villages in the central region of Boé were established and increased the pressure on the already limited areas of intact forests. In recent decades, cattle herders are in higher numbers and more permanently settling in remote areas that were relatively undisturbed before their arrival (Goedmakers pers. comm. 2022, Chimbo Foundation 2015). The attitude towards primates among the local communities in Boé is in general positive (Hockings & Humle 2009). Hunting of primates is rare because of religious taboos (van Laar 2010) and some parts of the gallery forest, mostly around headwaters, are protected by traditional beliefs (White & Edwards 2000, Koops et al. 2012, van der Meer 2014). The ongoing loss of traditions and of respect for traditional institutions presents a threat to the survival of Boé’s cultural heritage and natural resource base. One of the bauxite mining concessions is situated at the middle course of Jabere river, neighbouring an area occupied by chimpanzees during the dry season. Effects on the populations are expected, because: 1) this site provides during the dry season one of the few places with permanent water availability, 2) water pollution as a consequence of the mining operations, by the workers and washouts of sediments, 3) noise pollution through explosions, heavy machinery and roads (Wenceslau 2014). Furthermore, an influx of workers could disturb the local culture and increase the pressure on the already limited resources available (Wenceslau 2014). Bush fires are occurring, sometimes due to fire setting by the farmers or cattle herders (Wenceslau 2014), or on purpose by hunters, but also by negligence of farmers and fishermen. During the late dry season herders burn grasslands. After the whole north flank of Ronde Hill was burned by a local family, destroying an area of at least 300 ha, no new chimpanzee nests were spotted in the affected areas (Wenceslau 2014). Burning for opening an agricultural area is restricted to the field to be cultivated but may spread easily.

Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Boé Sector

Category Specific threats Threat level Description Year of threat
9 Pollution Absent
10 Geological events Absent
12 Other threat Absent
3 Energy production & mining 3.2 Mining & quarrying High (more than 70% of population affected) Bauxite mining sites are planned next to chimpanzee populations (Wenceslau 2014). Ongoing (2014)
7 Natural system modifications 7.1 Fire & fire suppression High (more than 70% of population affected) Herding practices may provoke fast spreading and uncontrollable wildfires (Wenceslau 2014). 300 ha burned in 2013. But also farmers, hunters and fishermen may cause harmful bushfires. Since then 40 fire brigades are creating firebreaks and combat fires (Goedmakers pers. obs. 2024). 2014-Ongoing (2024)
4 Transportation & service corridors Low (up to 30% of population affected) Transport to bushmeat market in Bissau serving primates (not chimpanzees; Kesteren pers. obs. 2024). Ongoing (2024)
5 Biological resource use 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals Low (up to 30% of population affected) Hunting of chimpanzees was rare in Boé because of religious taboos (van Laar 2010) and has stopped.

Animals like baboons are sometimes commercially hunted. Other animals like red river hogs are hunted for food (Goemakers per. obs. 2024).

2010-Ongoing (2024)
6 Human intrusions & disturbance Low (up to 30% of population affected) Very rarely poachers from Guinea Conakry, but it is under control thanks to Village Committees who denounce poachers (Goedmakers pers obs. 2024). Ongoing (2024)
1 Residential & commercial development 1.1 Residential areas Medium (30-70% of population affected) New villages were established (Chimbo Foundation 2015). Settlements in remote areas have caused disturbances since the 1990s (Goedmakers pers. comm. 2022). 2015-Ongoing (2022)
2 Agriculture & aquaculture 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops Medium (30-70% of population affected) Small-holder Farming (Chimbo Foundation 2015). Cashew plantations increasing in area (Van der Hoeven 2020). 70 ha of forest converted to cashew plantations between 2016 and 2020. 2015-Ongoing (2020)
2 Agriculture & aquaculture 2.3 Livestock farming & ranching Medium (30-70% of population affected) Temporary cattle camps at remote places; about 1/3 of cattle people are transhumant. Tendency to more permanent settlements in these areas. (Goedmakers pers. comm. 2022). Ongoing (2022)
8 Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases Unknown
11 Climate change & severe weather Unknown

IUCN Threats list

Conservation activities

IBAP (The Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas) established a National Park (PNB) and Wildlife Corridors in part of the Boé Sector, east of the river Corubal, and a National Park (PND) in the part of the Boé Sector, west of the river Corubal. The Chimbo Foundation together with its local sister organization Daridibó executes a program of community-based sustainable conservation in the Boé, creating synergy between conservation and development (Chimbo Foundation 2018). The long-term objective of this programme is to guarantee the long-term survival of the western chimpanzee population in the Boé through community-based conservation. Chimbo works with 31 Village Vigilance Committees and 40 village Fire Brigades. Over 220 sacred sites are mapped by Chimbo and 178 registered as ICCA’s and can be found in the WDPA. Students and visiting researchers work on different aspects of integrated conservation: inventories of flora and fauna, socio-ecological surveys, etc. Since 2021 ARCUS has financed a program to identify “drumming trees” aiming to increase their protection by the local population. The development of ecotourism in the Boé Sector started in 2012.


Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Boé Sector

Category Specific activity Description Implementing organization(s) Year of activity
1 Development impact mitigation 1.4 Farm more intensively and effectively in selected areas and spare more natural land Since 2008, improved slash-and-burn practices; respect of larger trees; use of green manure (Goedmakers pers. comm. 2022). Chimbo Foundation 2008-Ongoing (2024)
1 Development impact mitigation 1.12 Use selective logging instead of clear-cutting Since 2008, improved slash-and-burn practices; respect of larger trees; use of green manure (Goedmakers pers. comm. 2022). Chimbo Foundation 2008-Ongoing (2024)
1 Development impact mitigation Other Awareness raising and excursions to bauxite mining areas in Guinea. Chimbo raised awareness about responsible mining of Bauxite in case of a concession might be explored and exploited (Kesteren pers. comm. 2024). Chimbo Foundation 2010-2014
1 Development impact mitigation Other Advise requested by government agency. Chimbo commented on an EIA for a feasibility study for a road crossing the Boé (Kesteren pers. comm. 2024). Chimbo Foundation 2012.0
2 Counter-wildlife crime 2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols IBAP controls Boé and Dulombi NP and the 2 wildlife corridors. Chimbo works with 31 village committees all over Boé who conduct patrols twice a month (Chimbo Foundation 2023). IBAP, Chimbo Foundation 2019-Ongoing (2023)
2 Counter-wildlife crime 2.12 Implement community control of patrolling, banning hunting and removing snares Chimbo works with 31 village committees who implement patrols and report back to Chimbo (Chimbo Foundation 2023). Chimbo Foundation 2019-Ongoing (2023)
4 Education & awareness 4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use Awareness raising activities include making people aware of danger of mining for chimpanzees (Chimbo Foundation 2018). Chimbo Foundation 2019-Ongoing (2022)
4 Education & awareness 4.2 Involve local community in ape research and conservation management Chimbo Foundation 2018 Chimbo Foundation 2018-Ongoing (2022)
4 Education & awareness 4.6 Integrate religion/local taboos into conservation education 220 sacred sites in Database since 2020. Ongoing (2022)
4 Education & awareness Other Conservation awareness raising among herdsmen; denouncing poachers from neighbouring areas (Guinea Conakry) (Goedmakers pers. comm. 2022, 2024). Chimbo Foundation Ongoing (2024)
5 Protection & restoration 5.11 Protect important food/nest trees before burning Early fire program to protect forest (Chimbo Foundation 2019). 40 fire brigades make fire breaks around sacred forests and combat fires. Awareness on importance of large trees. Chimbo Foundation Ongoing (2019)
5 Protection & restoration 5.2 Legally protect ape habitat Since 2017, part of the site has been designated a National Park, and ecological corridors. In addition, more than 220 sacred sites in data base; 178 sacred sites (ICCA’s) integrated in World Data Base on Protected Areas (Goedmakers pers. comm. 2022). 2017-Ongoing (2024)
5 Protection & restoration Other Inventory of herdsmen to estimate numbers of settlements and reasons why they came to and settled in Boé (Goedmakers pers. comm. 2022). Chimbo Foundation Ongoing (2022)
7 Economic & other incentives 7.1 Provide monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g., REDD, alternative income, employment) Local people are employed by Chimbo (Chimbo Foundation 2019). Micro-projects at pilot-scale. Chimbo Foundation Ongoing (2019)
7 Economic & other incentives 7.2 Provide non-monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g., better education, infrastructure development) Rice banks, secondary school education for girls since 2010. Recognition of Boé as an important area for Chimpanzee- and Nature conservation: inspirational return for the local communities. Chimbo Foundation 2010-Ongoing (2022)
8 Permanent presence 8.1 Run research project and ensure permanent human presence at site Chimbo Foundation 2019 Chimbo Foundation Ongoing (2019)
8 Permanent presence 8.2 Run tourist projects and ensure permanent human presence at site Chimbo Foundation 2019 Chimbo Foundation Ongoing (2019)
8 Permanent presence 8.3 Permanent presence of staff/manager Chimbo Foundation 2019, 2023 Chimbo Foundation 2019-Ongoing (2023)

Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)

Challenges

Until now, the local cultural values of the Boé are mainly rooted in their relation with the natural environment (e.g. sacred forest, natural springs, and specific animal- and plant species) and are contributing to the protection of forests and primate populations. This traditional knowledge about the natural and cultural environment is held by the elders, but not always transferred to the next generations. An erosion of cultural values in the Boé among the younger generation can be observed. Food- and hunting taboos are no longer respected as before, for example, baboons have become much more difficult to observe as a result; sacred forests are threatened by expanding agriculture; alcohol consumption is increasing among the youngsters of these traditional Muslim communities (Chimbo Foundation 2018).

Table 5. Challenges reported for Boé Sector

Challenges Specific challenges Source Year(s)
4 Institutional support 4.1 Lack of law enforcement IUCN & Chimbo 2016
2 Resources and capacity 2.3 General lack of funding IUCN WCAP
3 Engaged community 3.4 Eroding taboos in favor of conservation Chimbo Foundation 2018

Enablers

Table 6. Enablers reported for Boé Sector

Enablers Specific enablers Source Year(s)
1 Site management
2 Resources and capacity
3 Engaged community
4 Institutional support
5 Ecological context
6 Safety and stability

Research activities

Documented behaviours

Chimpanzees nested mainly in semi-dense forest, to an even greater extent than reported by Fleury-Brugiere & Brugiere 2010 and Bersacola et al. 2018. Unique high preference for Khaya senegalensis and especially Parkia biglobosa for nesting (Wenceslau 2014).

Table 7. Behaviours documented for Boé Sector

Behavior Source
Accumulative stone throwing Chimbo annual report 2010, Kühl et al. 2016, Buys 2017, Kalan et al. 2019, Loon S. van. 2020, Buys et al. 2022
Ant dipping Kühl et al. 2019
Ant eating Kühl et al. 2019
Bathing Kühl et al. 2019
Honey eating Kühl et al. 2019
Honey extraction with tool Kühl et al. 2019
Stone throwing Chimbo annual report 2010, Kühl et al. 2016, Buys 2018, Kalan et al. 2019, Loon S. van 2020, Buys et al. 2022

Exposure to climate change impacts

External links

Chimbo Foundation

Relevant datasets

References

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Betel, C. 2020. Crop raiding dynamics by mammals in the Boé Sector of Guinea-Bissau. Master thesis Wageningen University.
Binczik, A., Roig-Boixeda, P., Heymann, E. W., & Waltert, M. 2017. Conservation of chimpanzees Pan troglodytes verus and other primates depends on forest patches in a West African savannah landscape. Oryx, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317001090
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Page created by: Annemarie Goedmakers & Piet Wit Date: 2023-02-21

Page updated by: Annemarie Goedmakers, Piet Wit, Syzygy Kesteren Date: 45514.0