Usala Forest
Central Africa > Democratic Republic of the Congo > Usala Forest
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Summary
- Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) & Grauer's gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) are present in Usala Forest.
- In 2007, the gorilla population was estimated to range between 240 to 410 individuals. The chimpanzee population is unknown.
- The gorilla population trend is stable; the chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
- The site has a total size of 3,500 km².
- Important threats to great apes include illegal mining and the presence of armed groups.
- Conservation activities are not documented.
Site characteristics
Usala forest lies to the east of Maiko National Park, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is among the most remote, intact, and inaccessible blocks of tropical rainforest remaining in Africa (Kümpel et al. 2015). The site is also important for the conservation of okapis (Kümpel et al. 2015).
Table 1. Basic site information for Usala Forest
| Species | 'Gorilla beringei graueri |
| Area | 3,500 km² |
| Coordinates | |
| Type of site | Non-protected area |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest |
| Type of governance |
IUCN habitat categories Site designations
Ape status
Survey results suggest that between 2007 and 2014, the gorilla population in Usala remained relatively stable (Nixon et al. 2015).
Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Usala Forest
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorilla beringei graueri | 2007 | 240-410 | 850 km² | Reconnaissance walk | Nixon et al. 2015 | Assessment led by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. 34 nest sites and large gorilla groups were encountered. Abundance estimate is tentative. Survey effort: 240 km. | |||||
| Gorilla beringei graueri | 2014 | Present | Approximately 340 km² | Reconnaissance walk | Nixon et al. 2015 | Survey effort: 200 km. 28 nest sites were encountered. |
Threats
Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Usala Forest
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Residential & commercial development | Absent | |||
| 10 Geological events | Absent | |||
| 12 Other threat | Absent | |||
| 3 Energy production & mining | 3.2 Mining & quarrying | High (more than 70% of population affected) | Presence of armed groups involved in illegal mining activities (Kümpel et al. 2015). | Ongoing (2015) |
| 2 Agriculture & aquaculture | Unknown | |||
| 4 Transportation & service corridors | Unknown | |||
| 5 Biological resource use | Unknown | |||
| 6 Human intrusions & disturbance | Unknown | |||
| 7 Natural system modifications | Unknown | |||
| 8 Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Unknown | |||
| 9 Pollution | Unknown | |||
| 11 Climate change & severe weather | Unknown |
Conservation activities
Challenges
Widespread presence of armed groups and illegal mining operations present serious challenges for the implementation of conservation activities (Kümpel et al. 2015).
Table 5. Challenges reported for Usala Forest
| Challenges | Specific challenges | Source | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Safety and stability | 6.3 Civil unrest/war | Kümpel et al. 2015 |
Enablers
Table 6. Enablers reported for Usala Forest
| 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
Nixon, S.C., Mufabule, K., Eliba, A. & Patule, I.M. 2007. A prospection survey of the Usala Forest and proposed Usala Community Reserve, Democratic Republic of Congo. Unpublished report submitted to DFGI, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Goma, DRC. Available at http://fondationkumu.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/usalaprospection-2007.pdf
Documented behaviours
Table 7. Behaviours documented for Usala Forest
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
Exposure to climate change impacts
External links
Relevant datasets
References
Nixon, S., Kaghoma, C. & Vyalengerera, M. (2015). The status of Grauer’s gorilla in the Usala Forest. Gorilla Journal (Journal of Berggorilla and Regenwald Direkthilfe) 50.
Kümpel, N. F., Quinn, A., Queslin, E., Grange, S., Mallon, D. & Mapilanga, J-J. (2015). Okapi (Okapia johnstoni): Conservation Strategy and Status Review. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN and Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN). pp. 58
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