Difference between revisions of "Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve"

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   3) To make information comparable across wiki pages, keywords must be taken from the list of permitted words, or added to the list of permitted keywords. This is why we use official lists, e.g., IUCN classification lists, in our tables.
 
   3) To make information comparable across wiki pages, keywords must be taken from the list of permitted words, or added to the list of permitted keywords. This is why we use official lists, e.g., IUCN classification lists, in our tables.
 
-->
 
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[[West Africa]] > [[Ghana]] > [[Ankasa Conservation Area]]
+
[[West Africa]] > [[Ghana]] > [[Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve]]
  
 
= Summary = <!-- An overview of the site, with one sentence for each section. May include a site map -->
 
= Summary = <!-- An overview of the site, with one sentence for each section. May include a site map -->
 
<div style="float: right">
 
<div style="float: right">
 
{{#display_map: height=200px | width=300px | scrollzoom=off | zoom=5 | layers= OpenStreetMap, OpenTopoMap
 
{{#display_map: height=200px | width=300px | scrollzoom=off | zoom=5 | layers= OpenStreetMap, OpenTopoMap
−
|5.252710, -2.583665~[[Ankasa Conservation Area]]~Western Chimpanzee
+
|7.050600, -2.695950 ~[[Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve]]~Western Chimpanzee
 
}}
 
}}
 
</div>
 
</div>
−
* Western chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes verus'') may be present in Ankasa Conservation Area.
+
* Western chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes verus'') are present in Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve.
−
* Chimpanzees have not been documented in the area since 2016.
+
* The population size is unknown.
−
* The chimpanzee population trend is unknown; possibly absent.
+
* The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
−
* The site has a total size of 509 km².
+
* The size of the site is 31.4 km².
−
* Key threats to chimpanzees are agricultural encroachment and hunting.
+
* Key threats to chimpanzees are poaching and logging.
−
* Conservation activities have focused on education, patrolling, and preventing further degradation from farming activities.
+
* Conservation activities have focused on education and patrols.
  
 
= 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 -->
  
−
Ankasa Conservation Area (National Park and Resource Reserve) is located in the South Western part of Ghana, borderingIvory Coast. The Park is one of the few remnants of undisturbed Tropical Rainforest in Ghana. It was created in 1976. The site is very rich in biodiversity including forest elephants, bongos, leopards, olive colobus, black and white colobus, mangabey and other monkeys, yellow backed duikers and other duikers, pangolins, over 200 species of birds recorded, over 600 species of butterflies etc. The area is one of the known World Bird Areas and a Key Biodiversity Area (Ofori-Amanfo, R. pers. comm. 2023).
+
Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve is a Tropical Semi-Deciduous Forest. It is home to pangolins, duikers, and monkeys, among other species. The area also has a good forest but exploitation of the Forest and other activities are reducing the status of the forest cover (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
  
−
'''Table 1. Basic site information for Ankasa Conservation Area'''
+
'''Table 1. Basic site information for Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="basic-information"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="basic-information"
 
| Area <!-- Please include units: km2/ha e.g 200ha -->
 
| Area <!-- Please include units: km2/ha e.g 200ha -->
−
|509 km²
+
|31.4 km²
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Coordinates
 
|Coordinates
−
|5.252710, -2.583665
+
|7.050600, -2.695950
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Designation
 
|Designation
−
|Conservation Area and Resource Reserve
+
|Forest Reserve
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Habitat types <!-- List IUCN Habitat Classification 3.0 categories present (without number), see link below -->
 
|Habitat types <!-- List IUCN Habitat Classification 3.0 categories present (without number), see link below -->
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= Ape status = <!--An overview of ape population status (population sizes, trends, etc.), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->
 
= Ape status = <!--An overview of ape population status (population sizes, trends, etc.), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->
  
−
Chimpanzees have not been documented in the area since 2016.
+
No recent survey has been conducted at the area but some farmers and hunters within the area claimed they have been spotting chimpanzees periodically in the Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
  
−
'''Table 2. Ape population estimates in Ankasa Conservation Area'''
+
'''Table 2. Ape population estimates in Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="population-estimate-table"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="population-estimate-table"
 
! Species
 
! Species
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|-
 
|-
 
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
 
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
−
|2016
 
−
|0
 
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
−
|Ankasa Conservation Area
 
 
|
 
|
−
|Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2016
+
|
 +
|Bia Shelter Belt FR
 +
|
 +
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
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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 -->
  
−
There are poaching camps, which the park’s staff has encountered, as well as temporary farm houses in encroached areas, but efforts are being made to clear all these in the park (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
+
In the past, around the 1990s, threats were not very serious, but the threats to the forest are now increasing along with the human population increase, which leads to the higher demand for resources. Poaching threat is medium in the core area of the reserve and more severe closer to towns, villages and farms; illegal logging is severe all over the Reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Illegal logging and some periodic spot burnings occur in the reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
  
−
'''Table 3. Threats to apes in Ankasa Conservation Area'''
+
'''Table 3. Threats to apes in Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="threats-table"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="threats-table"
 
!align="left"|Category <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE THREAT CATEGORIES -->
 
!align="left"|Category <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE THREAT CATEGORIES -->
Line 92: Line 92:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
−
|2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops
+
|
−
|Medium
+
|Unknown
−
|About 50 ha of farmland within the site (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
+
|
−
|The community members are predominantly farmers, embarking on cocoa and rubber plantations affecting the surroundings of the park and the entire landscape (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
+
|
−
|Ongoing (2023)
+
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|3. Energy production & mining
 
|3. Energy production & mining
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|5. Biological resource use
 
|5. Biological resource use
 
|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals
 
|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals
−
|Low
+
|Medium
 +
|
 +
|Farmers and hunters get most of their livelihood from the Forest Reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
 +
|Ongoing (2023)
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|5.3 Logging & wood harvesting
 +
|High
 
|
 
|
−
|Communities surrounding the Park (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
+
|Part of the area was under timber concession until 2019. Illegal logging and collection of forest products are still taking place (since 1980s but intensified from 2005 up to date) (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
−
|2016 - 2020
+
|Ongoing (2023)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
 
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
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|-
 
|-
 
|7. Natural system modifications
 
|7. Natural system modifications
 +
|7.1 Fire & fire suppression
 +
|Low
 
|
 
|
−
|Unknown
+
|Sometimes the forest catches fire and destroys part of the forest, which changes the structure of the forest (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
−
|
+
|Ongoing (2023)
−
|
 
−
|
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
 
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
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= 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 -->
  
−
The Wildlife Division of Forestry Commission is the main organization that protects the Ankasa Conservation Area. Forest Research Institute and some Universities in the country carry out research in the Park and give some recommendations regarding management of some of the species and information on some species in the Park for conservation and management purposes.  
+
Forestry Commission staff undertake patrols within the forest and carry out conservation education in the communities on the best conservation practices. The Forestry Commission is making efforts to intensify protection by deploying reinforcement teams from Ghana Forest RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS to the area to support the protection of the forest (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
  
−
'''Table 4. Conservation activities in Ankasa Conservation Area'''
+
'''Table 4. Conservation activities in Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="conservation-actions-table"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="conservation-actions-table"
 
!align="left"|Category <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE CATEGORIES -->
 
!align="left"|Category <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE CATEGORIES -->
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|-
 
|-
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
−
|2.8. Prohibit (livestock) farmers from entering protected areas
+
|Not reported
−
|Farmers and all unauthorised people are not allowed to enter into the reserve by intensive patrols within the area (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
+
|
−
|Ongoing (2023)
 
−
|-
 
 
|
 
|
−
|2.11. Farm more intensively and effectively in selected areas and spare more natural land
 
−
|Old cocoa and rubber farms are being cleared (since 2016) to plant new hybrid to yield more products to increase farmers income rather than clearing more land for cultivation (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
 
−
|Ongoing (2023)
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|3. Energy production & mining
 
|3. Energy production & mining
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|5. Biological resource use
 
|5. Biological resource use
 
|5.6. Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols
 
|5.6. Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols
−
|Field staff undertake day patrols, over night patrols and long/sleeping patrols in the Park to control poaching and for field data collection (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
+
|Wildlife staff and Forest Guards undertake patrols in the reserve to control illegalities (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
−
|Ongoing (2023)
 
−
|-
 
−
|
 
−
|5.11. Provide training to anti-poaching ranger patrols
 
−
|Staff are trained in, how take field data on animals and how to manage the animal species causing human animals conflict and others (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
 
 
|Ongoing (2023)
 
|Ongoing (2023)
 
|-
 
|-
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|10. Education & Awareness  
 
|10. Education & Awareness  
 
|10.1. Educate local communities about primates and sustainable use  
 
|10.1. Educate local communities about primates and sustainable use  
−
|Local communities are educated on the need to conserve the resources in the Park since the 1990s (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
+
|Conservation education is carried out by Wildlife staff (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
 
|Ongoing (2023)
 
|Ongoing (2023)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|11. Habitat Protection
 
|11. Habitat Protection
−
|Not reported
+
|11.2. Legally protect primate habitat
 
|
 
|
 +
|Ongoing (2023)
 +
|-
 
|
 
|
 +
|11.8. Plant indigenous trees to re-establish natural tree communities in clear-cut areas
 +
|Enrichment planting is ongoing in the Forest Reserve and the trees are doing very well (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
 +
|Ongoing (2023)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|12. Species Management
 
|12. Species Management
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[[Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)]]
 
[[Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)]]
  
−
= Challenges to conservation = <!-- Overview of challenges in ape conservation -->
+
= Challenges = <!-- Overview of challenges in ape conservation -->
  
−
Inadequate equipment and financial resources make protection of the Park difficult. The communities’ expectation is very high; that serves as disincentive to them no matter the efforts put in to support them (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
+
Restrictions into Forest Reserves are not the same as for National Parks and Resource reserves; as a result, illegal offtake control has not been so effective and the increase of population and demand for resources for their livelihood has made effective conservation difficult. Inadequate staffing, bad roads, little field equipment, no survey equipment, lack of vehicles, inadequate funding etc. hampers protection  (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
  
−
'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Ankasa Conservation Area'''
+
'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="challenges-table"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="challenges-table"
 
!align="left"|Challenge <!-- Do not change categories -->
 
!align="left"|Challenge <!-- Do not change categories -->
 
!Source <!-- Source for challenge mentioned -->
 
!Source <!-- Source for challenge mentioned -->
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Lack of financial means
+
|Lack of human resources
 
|Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023
 
|Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Lack of logistical means
+
|Lack of law enforcement
−
|Wildlife Division and PADP II, 2010
+
|Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Lack of human resources
+
|Lack of trust and support from local communities
−
|Wildlife Division and PADP II, 2010
+
|Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Lack of trust and support from local communities
+
|Lack of logistical means
−
|Wildlife Division and PADP II, 2010
+
|Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
= Research activities = <!-- Overview of research activities -->
 
= Research activities = <!-- Overview of research activities -->
 +
 +
Periodic research by the Forestry Commission, NGOs and others take place in the 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. Ape behaviors reported for Ankasa Conservation Area'''
+
'''Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="behaviors-table"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="behaviors-table"
 
!align="left"|Behavior
 
!align="left"|Behavior
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= References =
 
= References =
−
Wildlife Division and PADP II (2010) Ankasa Conservation Area, Management Plan, Ankasa Conservation Area Quarterly reports (Unpublished)  <br>
 
  
 
<br>
 
<br>
−
'''Page completed by: '''Richard Ofori-Amanfo''' Date:''' 14/08/2023 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->
+
'''Page completed by: '''Richard Ofori-Amanfo''' Date:''' 09/11/2023 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->

Latest revision as of 14:17, 18 November 2024

West Africa > Ghana > Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve

Summary

Loading map...
  • Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve.
  • The population size is unknown.
  • The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
  • The size of the site is 31.4 km².
  • Key threats to chimpanzees are poaching and logging.
  • Conservation activities have focused on education and patrols.

Site characteristics

Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve is a Tropical Semi-Deciduous Forest. It is home to pangolins, duikers, and monkeys, among other species. The area also has a good forest but exploitation of the Forest and other activities are reducing the status of the forest cover (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).

Table 1. Basic site information for Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve

Area 31.4 km²
Coordinates 7.050600, -2.695950
Designation Forest Reserve
Habitat types Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest

IUCN habitat categories Site designations

Ape status

No recent survey has been conducted at the area but some farmers and hunters within the area claimed they have been spotting chimpanzees periodically in the Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).

Table 2. Ape population estimates in Bia Shelter Belt Forest 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 Bia Shelter Belt FR

Threats

In the past, around the 1990s, threats were not very serious, but the threats to the forest are now increasing along with the human population increase, which leads to the higher demand for resources. Poaching threat is medium in the core area of the reserve and more severe closer to towns, villages and farms; illegal logging is severe all over the Reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Illegal logging and some periodic spot burnings occur in the reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).

Table 3. Threats to apes in Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve

Category Specific threats Threat level Quantified severity Description Year of threat
1. Residential & commercial development Unknown
2. Agriculture & aquaculture Unknown
3. Energy production & mining Unknown
4. Transportation & service corridors Unknown
5. Biological resource use 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals Medium Farmers and hunters get most of their livelihood from the Forest Reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Ongoing (2023)
5.3 Logging & wood harvesting High Part of the area was under timber concession until 2019. Illegal logging and collection of forest products are still taking place (since 1980s but intensified from 2005 up to date) (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Ongoing (2023)
6. Human intrusion & disturbance Unknown
7. Natural system modifications 7.1 Fire & fire suppression Low Sometimes the forest catches fire and destroys part of the forest, which changes the structure of the forest (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Ongoing (2023)
8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases Unknown
9. Pollution Unknown
10. Geological Events Absent
11. Climate change & severe weather Unknown
12. Other options Absent

IUCN Threats list

Conservation activities

Forestry Commission staff undertake patrols within the forest and carry out conservation education in the communities on the best conservation practices. The Forestry Commission is making efforts to intensify protection by deploying reinforcement teams from Ghana Forest RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS to the area to support the protection of the forest (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).

Table 4. Conservation activities in Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve

Category Specific activity Description Year of activity
1. Residential & commercial development Not reported
2. Agriculture & aquaculture Not reported
3. Energy production & mining Not reported
4. Transportation & service corridors Not reported
5. Biological resource use 5.6. Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols Wildlife staff and Forest Guards undertake patrols in the reserve to control illegalities (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Ongoing (2023)
6. Human intrusion & 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 10.1. Educate local communities about primates and sustainable use Conservation education is carried out by Wildlife staff (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Ongoing (2023)
11. Habitat Protection 11.2. Legally protect primate habitat Ongoing (2023)
11.8. Plant indigenous trees to re-establish natural tree communities in clear-cut areas Enrichment planting is ongoing in the Forest Reserve and the trees are doing very well (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Ongoing (2023)
12. Species Management Not reported
13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives Not reported

Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)

Challenges

Restrictions into Forest Reserves are not the same as for National Parks and Resource reserves; as a result, illegal offtake control has not been so effective and the increase of population and demand for resources for their livelihood has made effective conservation difficult. Inadequate staffing, bad roads, little field equipment, no survey equipment, lack of vehicles, inadequate funding etc. hampers protection (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).

Table 5. Challenges reported for Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve

Challenge Source
Lack of human resources Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023
Lack of law enforcement Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023
Lack of trust and support from local communities Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023
Lack of logistical means Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023

Research activities

Periodic research by the Forestry Commission, NGOs and others take place in the Forest Reserve.

Documented behaviours

Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Bia Shelter Belt Forest Reserve

Behavior Source
Not reported

External links

Ghana Forestry Commission

References


Page completed by: Richard Ofori-Amanfo Date: 09/11/2023

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