Pic de Fon Classified Forest

West Africa > Republic of Guinea > Pic de Fon Classified Forest

Summary

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• Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in Pic de Fon Classified Forest.
• It has been estimated that 75 (CI: 21-246) individuals occur in the forest.
• The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
• This site has a total size of 256 km².
• Key threats to chimpanzees are hunting and habitat degradation due to agricultural activities and fires, as well as exploration for mining.
• To mitigate negative impacts by proposed mining activities a conservation action plan was written in 2010 but it is unclear which activities were implemented.
• Due to its diverse habitat types Pic de Fon is very rich in biodiversity.

Site characteristics

Pic de Fon Classified Forest is located in southern Guinea at the southern end of the Simandou range and is part of the Greater Nimba Highlands. It has a size of 256 km² and was designated a classified forest in 1953 (UNEP-WCMC & IUCN 2019). The altitude of Pic de Fon ranges from 600 to 1,656 m and is the second highest mountain in Guinea (McCullough 2004). As it lies at the transition between forest and savanna zones it features a diversity of habitats including montane grassland and forest (gallery and ravine forests), semi-evergreen lowland forest (primary and secondary), savanna, rivers, and anthropogenic habitat such as plantations (coffee, cocoa, banana), and farmbush (McCullough 2004). This diversity of habitats leads to a diversity of plant and animal species which were surveyed in a rapid biological assessment in 2002. In this assessment 409 plant, 32 amphibian, 12 reptile, 233 bird, 21 bat, 40 katydid (bush crikets), 17 small mammal, 13 primate and 39 large mammal species were recorded, including species new to science and endemic species (McCullough 2004). Regarding primates the following primate species were recorded: western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus), potto (Perodicticus potto), Demidoff ’s galago (Galagoides demidoff), sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys atys), Campbell’s guenon (Cercopithecus campbelli campbelli), lesser spot-nosed guenon (Cercopithecus petaurista buettikoferi), greater spot-nosed guenon (Cercopithecus nicitans), Diana monkey (Cercopithecus diana diana, Herbinger & Tounkara 2004). In a conservation priority setting workshop in 2001, Pic de Fon was identified as having important habitat types for amphibians and reptiles (Bakarr et al. 2001). To inform the extension of the protected area network Brugière and Kormos (2009) identified 16 Key Biodiversity Areas across Guinea based on the occurrence of globally threatened large and medium-sized mammals, among which Pic de Fon Classified Forest ranked eight. Pic de Fon is known to have large iron ore deposits and mining exploration activities began in 1997. While the Guinean government granted a mining concession in 2006, actual mining activities have not yet started and if or when these would go ahead is unclear (Kormos et al. 2014, Rio Tinto 2018).

Table 1. Basic site information for Pic de Fon Classified Forest

Area	256 km²
Coordinates	8.55, -8.88
Designation	Classified Forest (IUCN Management Category not reported)
Habitat types	Subtropical/tropical moist montane forest, subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, Subtropical/tropical high altitude grassland, moist savanna, permanent rivers, plantations

IUCN habitat categories Site designations

Ape status

Rebecca Kormos confirmed the presence of chimpanzees in Pic de Fon based on interviews with hunters (Ham 1998). As part of a rapid biological assessment line transect surveys were conducted by Herbinger and Tounkara (2004) and they estimated the size of the chimpanzee population at around 75 weaned individuals. In 2007 a further survey was implemented as part of the Simandou mining project that estimated the chimpanzee population at between 36-46 individuals, but details are not publicly available (Kormos et al. 2014).

Table 2. Ape population estimates in Pic de Fon Classified Forest

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	1997			Present	Pic de Fon	Interview method	Ham 1998	Interview of hunters
Pan troglodytes verus	2002	75 (21-246)	0.64	6.80	Pic de Fon	Line transects (Distance)	Herbinger & Tounkara 2004	Total survey effort: 17.2 km
Pan troglodytes verus	2007	36-46			Pic de Fon		Unknown	Original source unknown, cited in Kormos et al. 2014

Threats

A rapid biological assessment in 2002 identified 24 villages in the vicinity of Pic de Fon Classified Forest and concluded that villagers rely strongly on the forest as a source of food (e.g., wildlife, fish, fruits), water, wood for fuel and construction, and medicinal plants (McCullough 2004). Hunting was identified as the biggest threat to chimpanzees and wildlife in general (McCullough 2004). Hunting camps were also found inside the classified forest. 35-40% of the forest are impacted by the cultivation of subsistence and cash crops, including coffee (McCullough 2004). Fires are set intentionally to clear land for agriculture. A further concern to chimpanzees is the “Simandou Project”, an iron-ore mining concession held by Rio Tinto and Chinalco (Aluminium Corporation of China, Kormos et al. 2014). Exploration for mining of the iron ore started in 1997 and the mining concession was granted in 2006 by the Guinean government. Mining exploration can cause noise pollution and the presence of more people in the forest further disturbs chimpanzees (Herbinger & Tounkara 2004). Roads were build as part of the mining exploration, indirectly affecting chimpanzees by increasing accessibility by humans and possibly hunting pressure. Part of the concession area overlaps with the forest of Pic de Fon (Konate pers. comm. 2023). The 2002 survey of Pic de Fon found hunting pressure and agricultural activities to be most prevalent in lower altitudes and no chimpanzee nests were found below 900 m altitude. As mining activities will be in higher altitudes this would likely strongly impact chimpanzees in their core habitat (Herbinger & Tounkara 2004). In connection with the mining project concerns have also been raised in relation to social issues, environmental damage by pollution and changes in the hydrology, and corruption (Environmental Justice Atlas 2019, Boyes 2014 ).

Table 3. Threats to great apes in Pic de Fon Classified Forest

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	35-40% of the forest are impacted by agricultural activities	35-40% of the forest are impacted by agricultural activities (McCullough 2004)	Ongoing (2004)
	2.3 Livestock farming & ranching	High		Cattle herding (Konate pers. Comm. 2023).	Ongoing (2023)
3. Energy production & mining	3.2 Mining & quarrying	Medium		Exploration for mining since 1997 (Herbinger and Tounkara 2004). Rio Tinto concession area overlaps with the site, and artisanal mining ongoing (Konate pers. Comm. 2023).	Ongoing (2023)
4. Transportation & service corridors	4.1 Roads & railroads	Medium		Roads build for mining exploration (Herbinger and Tounkara 2004)	Ongoing (2004)
5. Biological resource use	5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	High		Identified as the most prevalent threat (Herbinger and Tounkara 2004). Hunting is ongoing (Konate pers. Comm. 2023).	Ongoing (2023)
	5.2 Gathering terrestrial plants	Medium		Collection of fruits and medicinal plants (McCullough 2004)	Ongoing (2004)
	5.3 Logging & wood harvesting	Medium		Wood collected for fuel and construction (McCullough 2004)	Ongoing (2004)
6. Human intrusions & disturbance		Absent
7. Natural system modifications	7.1 Fire & fire suppression	Medium		Fire are set for clearing areas for agricultural use (McCullough 2004)	Ongoing (2004)
8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases		Unknown
9. Pollution	9.6 Excess energy	Present		Noise pollution during mining exploration (Herbinger and Tounkara 2004)	Unknown (2004)
10. Geological Events		Absent
11. Climate change & severe weather		Unknown
12. Other options		Absent

IUCN Threats list

Conservation activities

One outcome of the rapid biological assessment conducted as part of an alliance between Conservation International and Rio Tinto Mining & Exploration in 2002, was an initial biodiversity action plan for Pic de Fon Classified Forest (McCullough 2004). The conservation objectives set out in this plan focus on biodiversity data and monitoring, regulating resource-use, awareness and capacity building, and strengthening the legal protection of the forest (McCullough 2004). However, it is not clear whether any of these activities have been implemented. To mitigate negative impacts by the development of the iron ore mine a community-based management plan was developed as part of a collaboration between the Guinean government, Rio Tinto and local communities in 2010 (TBC 2019). As part of the conservation action plan Pic de Fon was divided into three zones: a protected area, a production area that can be used by local communities and the mining area (Diakite et al. 2010). Different activities were planned, including regulating hunting and usage of non-timber forest products, control of bushfires, reforestation (TBC 2019). However, as the development of the mine is not progressing and Rio Tinto is trying to sell its share, it is not clear if any of these activities have actually been implemented.

Table 4. Conservation activities in Pic de Fon Classified Forest

Category	Specific activity	Description	Year of activity
1. Residential & commercial development	Not reported
2. Agriculture & aquaculture	Not reported
3. Energy production & mining	3.3. Use 'set-aside' areas of natural habitat for primate protection within mining area	Conservation action plan specifies a zone that should be fully protected (Diakite et al. 2010)	2010
4. Transportation & service corridors	Not reported
5. Biological resource use	Not reported
6. Human intrusions & disturbance	Not reported
7. Natural system modifications	Not reported
8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases	Not reported
9. Pollution	Not reported
10. Education & Awareness	Not reported
11. Habitat Protection	11.2. Legally protect primate habitat	Designated as Classified Forest in 1953 (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2019)	Ongoing (2023)
	11.7. Restore habitat corridors	Planting of trees to create a corridor between Pic de Fon and another forest (Konate pers. Comm. 2023).	Ongoing (2023)
12. Species Management	Not reported
13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives	Not reported

Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)

Challenges

The lack of capacity among regional actors, including government agencies, local communities and NGOs has been noted as an impediment, for example to implement law enforcement (McCullough 2004). Civil unrest, and conflict on land tenure were also mentioned as conservation impediments (McCullough 2004).

Table 5. Challenges reported for Pic de Fon Classified Forest

Challenge	Source
Lack of capacity	McCullough 2004
Civil unrest	McCullough 2004
Conflict on land tenure	McCullough 2004

Research activities

As detailed above surveys on chimpanzees have been implemented (Ham 1998, Herbinger & Tounkara 2004, Kormos et al. 2014).

Documented behaviours

Table 6. Great ape behaviors reported for Pic de Fon Classified Forest

Behavior	Source
Not reported

References

Bakarr M et al. 2001. in IUCN 2008. From forest to the sea: biodiversity connections from Guinea to Togo. Conservation priority setting workshop. Washington D.C., USA: Conservation International
Boyes S. 2014. Rio Tinto Simandou: Exporting Iron Mountains. National Geographic. 27 January 2014. blog.nationalgeographic.org
Brugière D, Kormos R. 2009. Review of the protected area network in Guinea, West Africa, and recommendations for new sites for biodiversity conservation, Biodiversity and Conservation, 18:847
Diakite et al. 2010. Plan d’aménagement et plan de gestion de la Forêt Classée du Pic de Fon 2010- 2030. www.thebiodiversityconsultancy.com
Environmental Justice Atlas. 2019. Iron Mine on Simandou Mountain Range, Mine de Fer, Guinée, ejatlas.org
Ham R. 1998. Nationwide chimpanzee census and large mammal survey Republic of Guinea. Projet de conservation des chimpanzés en Guineée. Report to the European Union.
Herbinger I, Tounkara EO. 2004. A rapid survey of primates in the Simandou Range, Pic de Fon, Guinea, in McCullough (ed) A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Forêt Classée du Pic de Fon, Simandou Range, Southeastern Republic of Guinea. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 35. Conservation International, Washington, DC.
Kormos R et al. 2004. Great apes and biodiversity offset projects in Africa: the case for national offset strategies. Plos One 9(11): e111671, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111671
McCullough J. 2004. A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Forêt Classée du Pic de Fon, Simandou Range, Southeastern Republic of Guinea. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 35. Conservation International, Washington, DC.
Rio Tinto. 2018. Rio Tinto update on Simandou. Press release from 29 October 2018
TBC. 2019. Rio Tinto Simandou, Guinea: Pic de Fon Forêt Classée www.thebiodiversityconsultancy.com
UNEP-WCMC, IUCN. 2019. Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), Cambridge, UK: UNEP-WCMC and IUCN Online: www.protectedplanet.net

Page completed by: A.P.E.S. Wiki Team Date: 02/10/2023