Changes

* Key threats to chimpanzees are hunting, mining, and agricultural encroachment.

* Key threats to chimpanzees are hunting, mining, and agricultural encroachment.

* Information on conservation activities is lacking.

* Information on conservation activities is lacking.

= Site characteristics = <!-- A paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, and a table of key information -->

= Site characteristics = <!-- A paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, and a table of key information -->

The reserve is located in central Sierra Leone and is a watershed for some of the country’s main rivers (Brncic et al. 2010). In 1955 it was gazetted as a forest reserve, and in 1973 it was upgraded to non-hunting forest reserve (Brncic et al. 2010). The site is also an Important Bird Area ([http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kangari-hills-non-hunting-forest-reserve-iba-sierra-leone IBA]) with at least 115 bird species, of which six are globally threatened species, e.g., white-necked rockfowl, ''Picathartes gymnocephalus'' (BirdLife International 2019). In addition to the western chimpanzee, other primates inhabiting the site include western red colobus (''Piliocolobus badius''), Diana monkey (''Cercopithecus diana''), king colobus (''Colobus polykomos''), and sootey mangabey (''Cercocebus atys''). Elephants (''Loxodonta africana'') are also present in the area; the population is likely to be small (Brncic et al. 2010).

The reserve is located in central Sierra Leone and is a watershed for some of the country’s main rivers (Brncic et al. 2010). In 1955 it was gazetted as a forest reserve, and in 1973 it was upgraded to non-hunting forest reserve (Brncic et al. 2010). The site is also an Important Bird Area ([http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kangari-hills-non-hunting-forest-reserve-iba-sierra-leone IBA]) with at least 115 bird species, of which six are globally threatened species, e.g., white-necked rockfowl, ''Picathartes gymnocephalus'' (BirdLife International 2019). In addition to the western chimpanzee, other primates inhabiting the site include western red colobus (''Piliocolobus badius''), Diana monkey (''Cercopithecus diana''), king colobus (''Colobus polykomos''), and sootey mangabey (''Cercocebus atys''). Elephants (''Loxodonta africana'') are also present in the area; the population is likely to be small (Brncic et al. 2010).

'''Table 1: Basic site information for Kangari Hills Non-Hunting Forest Reserve'''

'''Table 1: Basic site information for Kangari Hills Non-Hunting Forest Reserve'''

|-

|-

| Coordinates

| Coordinates

|8.397566 N, -11.614876 W

|8.40 N, -11.61 W

|-

|-

| Designation      <!-- National Park, Nature Reserve, etc.  -->

| Designation      <!-- National Park, Nature Reserve, etc.  -->

In 2008, the CEMMATS Group Ltd conducted an environmental and social assessment at the site for the mining of concessions areas for Cluff Gold (Brncic et al. 2010). Chimpanzee presence was confirmed, but further information is not available. As part of a nationwide survey, Kangari Hills was surveyed in 2010, and only signs of chimpanzees were encountered (Brncic et al. 2010).  

In 2008, the CEMMATS Group Ltd conducted an environmental and social assessment at the site for the mining of concessions areas for Cluff Gold (Brncic et al. 2010). Chimpanzee presence was confirmed, but further information is not available. As part of a nationwide survey, Kangari Hills was surveyed in 2010, and only signs of chimpanzees were encountered (Brncic et al. 2010).  

'''Table 2: Great ape population estimates in Kangari Hills Non-Hunting Forest Reserve'''

'''Table 2: Great ape population estimates in Kangari Hills Non-Hunting Forest Reserve'''

Illegal artisanal gold mining activities are present throughout the reserve, and southwest to it, industrial-scale mining by the British company Cluff Gold commenced in 2013 (CILSS 2016; Brncic et al. 2010). Cluff Gold claims to have found 3 million ounces of gold in the area, which puts a lot of pressure on the reserve, as the demand for revenue is immense (CILSS 2016). Signs of hunting are also widespread in the reserve (Brncic et al. 2010), as well as agricultural encroachment coming from the north, and logging for charcoal production are also threats in the area (CILSS 2016).  

Illegal artisanal gold mining activities are present throughout the reserve, and southwest to it, industrial-scale mining by the British company Cluff Gold commenced in 2013 (CILSS 2016; Brncic et al. 2010). Cluff Gold claims to have found 3 million ounces of gold in the area, which puts a lot of pressure on the reserve, as the demand for revenue is immense (CILSS 2016). Signs of hunting are also widespread in the reserve (Brncic et al. 2010), as well as agricultural encroachment coming from the north, and logging for charcoal production are also threats in the area (CILSS 2016).  

'''Table 3: Threats to great apes in Kangari Hills Non-Hunting Forest Reserve'''

'''Table 3: Threats to great apes in Kangari Hills Non-Hunting Forest Reserve'''

A project funded by the the Global Environmental Facility and implemented between 2010 and 2014 by the World Bank and Österreichische Bundesforste Consulting (ÖBf) in collaboration with the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) aimed to improve management of the site ([https://theredddesk.org/countries/initiatives/sierra-leone-biodiversity-conservation-project The REDD Desk 2019]). The CEMMAT Group also provided a number of measures for the site, including, demarcation of the boundaries, enforcing legislation against illegal mining, reforestation, and training staff (Brncic et al. 2010). However, detailed information on conservation activities at the site is not available. Given that the forest is relatively intact in the core of the reserve, it could be a potentially important place for chimpanzees and other wildlife in Sierra Leone, especially elephants. However, if hunting is not controlled, it will continue to be an empty forest. Serious protection efforts and rehabilitation of the reserve are needed before it can return to being an important site for biodiversity conservation in Sierra Leone.

A project funded by the the Global Environmental Facility and implemented between 2010 and 2014 by the World Bank and Österreichische Bundesforste Consulting (ÖBf) in collaboration with the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) aimed to improve management of the site ([https://theredddesk.org/countries/initiatives/sierra-leone-biodiversity-conservation-project The REDD Desk 2019]). The CEMMAT Group also provided a number of measures for the site, including, demarcation of the boundaries, enforcing legislation against illegal mining, reforestation, and training staff (Brncic et al. 2010). However, detailed information on conservation activities at the site is not available. Given that the forest is relatively intact in the core of the reserve, it could be a potentially important place for chimpanzees and other wildlife in Sierra Leone, especially elephants. However, if hunting is not controlled, it will continue to be an empty forest. Serious protection efforts and rehabilitation of the reserve are needed before it can return to being an important site for biodiversity conservation in Sierra Leone.

'''Table 4: Conservation activities in Kangari Hills Non-Hunting Forest Reserve'''

'''Table 4: Conservation activities in Kangari Hills Non-Hunting Forest Reserve'''

= Impediments = <!-- Overview of impediments to ape conservation -->

= Impediments = <!-- Overview of impediments to ape conservation -->

'''Table 5: Impediments reported for Kangari Hills Non-Hunting Forest Reserve'''

'''Table 5: Impediments reported for Kangari Hills Non-Hunting Forest Reserve'''

===Documented behaviours===  <!-- List of any behaviours observed at the site, including citations -->

===Documented behaviours===  <!-- List of any behaviours observed at the site, including citations -->

'''Table 6: Great ape behaviors reported for Kangari Hills Non-Hunting Forest Reserve'''

'''Table 6: Great ape behaviors reported for Kangari Hills Non-Hunting Forest Reserve'''