Cavally Nature Reserve
West Africa > Côte d'Ivoire > Cavally Nature Reserve
Summary
- Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in Cavally Nature Reserve.
- It has been estimated that 52 (CI: 28-96) individuals occur at the site.
- The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
- This site has a total size of 675 km².
- Key threats to chimpanzees are deforestation and illegal bushmeat hunting.
- Conservation activities conducted include law enforcement patrols, environmental education, and alternative livelihood projects.
- Cavally is one of a few remaining forest blocks in Côte d’Ivoire.
Site characteristics
Cavally Nature Reserve is located in southwestern Côte d’Ivoire, directly neighboring the Goin-Débé Classified Forest. It is one of the last remaining lowland forests of the Upper Guinea forest ecosystem in Côte d’Ivoire (Alonso et al. 2005). It connects the two large forest blocks of Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire, and Grebo-Krahn National Park, Liberia. Cavally is a lowland rainforest. A rapid biological assessment of the Cavally forest in 2002 found 639 plant species, 63 insect species, 26 fishes, 36 amphibians, 11 reptiles, 153 birds, 16 small mammals and 34 large mammal species (Alonso et al. 2005). 13% of the plants recorded were endemic to West Africa. Species present in Cavally include ungulates such as the royal antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus), bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus), and bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus); birds, including hornbills (Buceros sp.) and turacos (Tauraco sp.); red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus), pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis), and several primate species, including Campbell’s monkey (Cercopithecus campbelli), sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys), Diana monkey (Cercopithecus diana), and western red colobus (Piliocolobus badius, Normand 2010). Because of the presence of the endangered bird species Gola malimbe (Malimbus ballmanni) Cavally and Goin-Débé are designated as Important Bird Areas (BirdLife International 2019). Cavally was previously a Classified Forest; it was reclassified in September 2023 as a Nature Reserve (WCF 2023).
Table 1. Basic site information for Cavally Nature Reserve
| Area | 675 km² |
| Coordinates | 6.07, -7.67 |
| Designation | Nature Reserve |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, plantations |
IUCN habitat categories Site designations
Ape status
A survey by the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) concluded that the chimpanzee population remained stable at around 50 individuals (Normand 2010). However, with the strong pressure on the Cavally forest and large-scale deforestation in the past years it is not clear how many chimpanzees remain (WCF 2016).
Table 2. Great ape population estimates in Cavally Nature Reserve
| Species | Year | Abundance estimate (95% CI) | Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) | Encounter rate (nests/km) | Area | Method | Source | Comments | A.P.E.S. database ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pan troglodytes verus | 2002 | Present | Cavally Nature Reserve | Presence-absence sampling | Alonso et al. 2005 | ||||
| Pan troglodytes verus | 2009 | 44 (24-81) | 0.068 (0.037-0.127) | 0.292 | Cavally Nature Reserve | Line transects (Distance) | Normand 2010 | Total survey effort: 130 km | |
| Pan troglodytes verus | 2010 | 52 (28-96) | 0.081 (0.044-0.149) | 0.343 | Cavally Nature Reserve | Line transects (Distance) | Normand 2010 | Total survey effort: 300 km |
Threats
The site is under strong deforestation pressure driven by the arrival of farmers from other areas trying to clear forest for the establishment of cocoa plantations. In the 2010 WCF survey signs of deforestation were mainly restricted to the northern part of Cavally (Normand 2010). However, with the infiltration of migrant farmers who were displaced from Mont Peko in 2016, pressure on the forest increased strongly (WCF 2016). Logging activities were already recorded in the rapid biological assessment in 2002 (Alonso et al. 2005). These logging activities resulted in increased illegal bushmeat hunting and establishment of illegal cocoa plantations (Alonso et al. 2005). Signs of hunting were found throughout the forest (Normand 2010). Monitoring activities by eco-guards trained by the WCF concluded that around 60% of Cavally forest remained intact, while 35% were plantations, mainly cocoa (WCF 2017).
Table 3. Threats to great apes in Cavally Nature Reserve
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Quantified severity | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | Absent | ||||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | High | > 0.02 signs of agriculture/km (Normand 2010) | agricultural activities widespread (Normand 2010), increasing pressure after the infiltration of migrant farmers in 2016 (WCF 2016) | 2010-Ongoing (2016) |
| 3. Energy production & mining | 3.2 Mining & quarrying | Low | Signs of artisanal mining for gold during 2007 survey (Normand 2010) | Ongoing (2010) | |
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | 4.1 Roads & railroads | Present | roads used to access plantations but also for wood extraction (Normand 2010) | Ongoing (2010) | |
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | High | 0.34 signs of hunting/km (2009), 0.19 signs of hunting/km (2010, Normand 2010) | bushmeat hunting widespread (Alonso et al. 2005, Normand 2010) | 2005-Ongoing (2010) |
| 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | High | > 0.1 signs of deforestation (Normand 2010) | high deforestation pressure on Cavally CF (Chatelain et al. 2010, Normand 2010, WCF 2016, 2017) | 2010-Ongoing (2017) | |
| 6. Human intrusions & disturbance | Absent | ||||
| 7. Natural system modifications | Absent | ||||
| 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases | Unknown | ||||
| 9. Pollution | Absent | ||||
| 10. Geological Events | Absent | ||||
| 11. Climate change & severe weather | Unknown | ||||
| 12. Other options | Absent |
Conservation activities
Since 2005, the WCF has worked in close cooperation with the “Société pour le Développement des Forêts” (SODEFOR) to implement conservation activities to combat poaching and deforestation in Cavally. The WCF implements monitoring activities, and with its presence wants to deter illegal agricultural activities (Normand 2007, WCF 2011, WCF 2013). Community eco guards are central to the monitoring program; eco guards make patrols and record wildlife presence, signs of illegal human activities, and monitor forest status (WCF 2023). SODEFOR dismantled illegal cocoa plantations in 2013 (WCF 2013). In 2013, a management plan was agreed upon by all stakeholders. Starting in 2014, the WCF started a FLEGT process (Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade), a program financed by the EU, UN FAO and UK Department for International Development (EU FLEGT Facility 2016). The WCF trained eco-guards (SODEFOR officers, employees of the logging company and people from communities around Cavally) to conduct patrols to prevent illegal activities, destroy illegal plantations and monitor wildlife (WCF 2014, 2015, 2017). The WCF collaborates with local NGOs NOFNA (Our Forest, Our Future), OPRFT (Observatory for the Protection and Reconstitution of Fauna and Tropical Flora) and IDEF (Community Development and Forest Conservation) to monitor the forest and to raise awareness on the threats to Cavally (WCF 2016). This collaboration also started alternative livelihood support projects around Cavally forest (frozen food store, pig and chicken farm, cassava production and transformation, WCF 2018). Environmental awareness activities include village meetings, panel discussions, radio broadcasting, and a theatre tour (WCF 2016, 2017, 2018).
Table 4. Conservation activities in Cavally Nature Reserve
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | Absent | ||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | Absent | ||
| 3. Energy production & mining | Absent | ||
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Absent | ||
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.15. Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g. SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement patrols | law enformcement patrols done by SODEFOR, training and equipment of eco-guards to monitor the forest (WCF 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2023) | 2014- Ongoing (2023) |
| 5.17. Provide sustainable alternative livelihoods; establish fish- or domestic meat farms | collaboration of WCF, NOFNA and OPRFT established alternative livelihood support projects, incl. (frozen food store, pig and chicken farm, cassava production and transformation (WCF 2018) | Ongoing (2018) | |
| 5.35. Certify forest concessions and market their products as ‘primate friendly’ | WCF is cooperating with SODEFOR and OIPR to establish and monitor sustainable logging practices (Normand 2007, WCF 2018) | Ongoing (2018) | |
| 6. Human intrusions & disturbance | Absent | ||
| 7. Natural system modifications | Absent | ||
| 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases | Absent | ||
| 9. Pollution | Absent | ||
| 10. Education & Awareness | 10.1. Educate local communities about primates and sustainable use | environmental awareness raising activities include village discussions and involvement of schools (WCF 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023) | 2016-Ongoing (2023) |
| 10.2. Involve local community in primate research and conservation management | WCF is training eco-guards that include member of the community to monitor the forest since 2014 (WCF 2014, 2023) | 2014-Ongoing (2023) | |
| 10.4. Regularly play TV & radio announcements to raise primate conservation awareness | radio announcements are broadcasted (WCF 2018) | Ongoing (2018) | |
| 10.5. Implement multimedia campaigns using theatre, film, print media, discussions | theater tour (WCF 2017, 2018) and panel discussion (WCF 2017) | Ongoing (2018) | |
| 11. Habitat Protection | 11.2. Legally protect primate habitat | designated as Classified Forest as far back as 2001 (BirdLife International 2019) and reclassified as a Nature Reserve in 2023. | 2001-Ongoing (2023) |
| 12. Species Management | Absent | ||
| 13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives | 13.2. Provide non-monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. better education, infrastructure development) | Alternative livelihood support projects around Cavally forest (frozen food store, pig and chicken farm, cassava production and transformation) by WCF and local NGOs OPRFT, NOFNA and IDEF (WCF 2018). | Ongoing (2018) |
Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)
Challenges
As part of their work to establish and monitor sustainable logging practices the WCF noted several impediments to conservation, including civil unrest, corruption, lack of capacity and lack of law enforcement, the latter also at the level of the judicial system (WCF 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017).
Table 5. Challenges reported for Cavally Nature Reserve
| Challenge | Source |
|---|---|
| Civil unrest | WCF 2012 |
| Corruption | WCF 2016, 2017 |
| Lack of capacity | WCF 2015 |
| Lack of law enforcement | WCF 2012, WCF 2013, WCF 2015 |
Research activities
Beyond the monitoring activities mentioned in the section ‘Ape Status’ no further research activities have been reported.
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Great ape behaviors reported for Cavally Nature Reserve
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
References
Alonso LE, Lauginie F and Rondeau G. 2005. A Rapid Biological Assessment of two Classified Forests in South-Western Côte d’Ivoire. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment No. 34. Conservation International. Washington, D.C.
BirdLife International. 2019. Important Bird Areas factsheet: Cavally and Goin - Debe Forest Reserves. Online: www.birdlife.org
Chatelain C et al. 2010. Monitoring tropical forest fragmentation in the Zagné-Taï area (west of Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire). Biodiversity and Conservation 19:2405-2420.
EU FLEGT Facility. 2016. Governance gain in Côte d’Ivoire with new contract for independent forest observers. EU FLEGT Facility
Normand E. 2007. Protection of two high priority classified Forests in Côte d’Ivoire (Cavally and Goin-Débé): Improved management plan and bio-monitoring of logging operations. Unpublished report, Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
Normand E. 2010. Rapport de suivi écologique dans les forêts de Goin-Débé et de Cavally (2007-2010). Unpublished report, Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
Sanderson J et al. 2005. A rapid survey of mammals from the Haute Dodo and Cavally forests, Côte d’Ivoire, in Alonso et al. (ed) A Rapid Biological Assessment of two Classified Forests in South-Western Côte d’Ivoire. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment No. 34. Conservation International. Washington, D.C.
www.protectedplanet.net
WCF. 2011. Annual report of the activities undertaken by the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation to improve the protection of wild chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa, Year 2011. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
WCF. 2012. Annual report 2012 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
WCF. 2013. Rapport Annuel 2013. Activités menées par la Wild Chimpanzee Foundation pour améliorer la protection des chimpanzés et leur habitat en Afrique de l’Ouest. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
WCF. 2014. Annual report 2014 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
WCF. 2015 Annual report 2015 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
WCF. 2016. Annual report 2016 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
WCF. 2017. Annual report 2017 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
WCF. 2018. Annual report 2018 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
WCF. 2023. Annual report 2022 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation
Page completed by: A.P.E.S. Wiki Team, Julia Riedel & Virginie Vergnes Date: 24/11/2023