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|6.481132, -3.112847~[[Bia Conservation Area]]~Western Chimpanzee

|~[[Bia Conservation Area]]~Western Chimpanzee

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= 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 Bia Conservation Area (BCA) forms a 306km2 block in the moist evergreen and moist semi-deciduous forest zones of western Ghana (Taylor, 1960; Hall and Swaine, 1981) between 6º 20’– 6º 40’N and 3º 00’– 3º 10’W, sandwiched between the Bia River and the border with Côte d’Ivoire (Figure 1). Rainfall is bimodal, peaking in June and October, with an annual rainfall of between 1500–1750 mm (Hall and Swaine, 1981). Average monthly temperature in the area is 24–28 ºC, with extremes from 18–34 ºC. The farming system is rain-fed, with farming activities undertaken throughout the year. The BCA was originally part of a larger (about 1500km2) ecosystem for forest elephants known as the Bia Group of Forest Reserves. However, the Bia elephant range has reduced over time due to clearance for cocoa cultivation, and is now an isolated population in an ecological island of forest with hard boundaries and no transitional zone to farmland (PADP, 2001).

The Bia Conservation Area (BCA) forms a 306km2 block in the moist evergreen and moist semi-deciduous forest zones of western Ghana (Taylor, 1960; Hall and Swaine, 1981) between 6º 20’– 6º 40’N and 3º 00’– 3º 10’W, sandwiched between the Bia River and the border with Côte d’Ivoire (Figure 1). Rainfall is bimodal, peaking in June and October, with an annual rainfall of between 1500–1750 mm (Hall and Swaine, 1981). Average monthly temperature in the area is 24–28 ºC, with extremes from 18–34 ºC. The farming system is rain-fed, with farming activities undertaken throughout the year. The BCA was originally part of a larger (about 1500km2) ecosystem for forest elephants known as the Bia Group of Forest Reserves. However, the Bia elephant range has reduced over time due to clearance for cocoa cultivation, and is now an isolated population in an ecological island of forest with hard boundaries and no transitional zone to farmland (PADP, 2001).

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|''Pan troglodytes verus''

|''Pan troglodytes verus''

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|Bia Conservation Area

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|Ofori-Amanfo, R. pers comm. 2023

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= Threats =    <!-- a text overview of threats, followed by a table of key threats -->

= Threats =    <!-- a text overview of threats, followed by a table of key threats -->

A total of 3,721 illegal human signs which are threats to the subspecies were recorded in 2021 and provided an overall encounter rate of 5.69 human signs per a kilometre walk. Three major threats among these were cartridge case (45.9%), wire snare (29.4%) and illegal logging (14.2%) (Danquah, E., pers. comm. 2022).

A total of 3,721 illegal human signs which are threats to the subspecies were recorded in 2021 and provided an overall encounter rate of 5.69 human signs per a kilometre walk. Three major threats among these were cartridge case (45.9%), wire snare (29.4%) and illegal logging (14.2%) (Danquah, E., pers. comm. 2022). Poachers still poach in the park, and set snares that also affect chimpanzees. The chimpanzees also raid crops, resulting in conflicts between them and farmers.

'''Table 3. Threats to apes in Bia Conservation Area'''

'''Table 3. Threats to apes in Bia Conservation Area'''

|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals

|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals

|Medium

|Medium

|5.69 human signs per a kilometre walk.

|5.69 human signs/km

|Cartridge cases and wire snares (Danquah, E. pers. comm. 2022).

|Cartridge cases and wire snares (Danquah, E. pers. comm. 2022).

|Ongoing (2022)

|Ongoing (2022)

= Conservation activities =      <!-- A summary of the conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->

= Conservation activities =      <!-- A summary of the conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->

Ghana's Wildlife Division is responsible for maintaining law and order within the protected area.

Bia Conservation Area is a protected area so there are dedicated staff who patrol inside the Park to protect the resources including the chimpanzees. There is also a community outreach team that goes to the communities to educate them about the need to conserve natural resources including the chimpanzees. Ghana's Wildlife Division is responsible for maintaining law and order within the protected area.

'''Table 4. Conservation activities in Bia Conservation Area'''

'''Table 4. Conservation activities in Bia Conservation Area'''

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|10. Education & Awareness  

|10. Education & Awareness  

|Not reported

|10.1. Educate local communities about primates and sustainable use

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|Community outreach team that goes to the communities to educate them about the need to conserve natural resources including the chimpanzees.

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|Ongoing (2023)

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|11. Habitat Protection

|11. Habitat Protection

= Challenges = <!-- Overview of challenges in ape conservation -->

= Challenges = <!-- Overview of challenges in ape conservation -->

The Ghana Wildlife Division has few staff and resources to conduct effective and regular anti-poaching activities within and around the protected area.

The Ghana Wildlife Division has few staff and resources to conduct effective and regular anti-poaching activities within and around the protected area. Inadequate staff, field equipment, vehicles etc. hinder effective protection of the chimpanzees.

'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Bia Conservation Area'''

'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Bia Conservation Area'''

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'''Page completed by: '''Emmanuel Danquah''' Date:''' 23/01/2023 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->

'''Page completed by: '''Emmanuel Danquah & Richard Ofori-Amanfo''' Date:''' 15/02/2023 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->