Difference between revisions of "Sapo National Park"

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     to the relevant table or keyword list. This ensures that the same keyword always refers to the same concept, e.g. Everybody uses "Industrial mining",  
 
     to the relevant table or keyword list. This ensures that the same keyword always refers to the same concept, e.g. Everybody uses "Industrial mining",  
 
     rather than several keywords such as "Industrial mining", "Large-scale mining", and "Mining".  
 
     rather than several keywords such as "Industrial mining", "Large-scale mining", and "Mining".  
 +
[[File: Map_LBR_Sapo_NP.png | 400px | thumb| right | Sapo National Park (Liberia) © A.P.E.S. Wiki Team]]
 +
 
-->
 
-->
−
> please add information to this site!
+
[[West Africa]] > [[Liberia]] > [[Sapo National Park]]
−
[[West Africa]] > [[Liberia]] > [[Gola Forest National Park]]
 
  
 
= Summary =  <!-- An overview of the site, with a one sentence overview of each of the following sections. can include a site map -->
 
= Summary =  <!-- An overview of the site, with a one sentence overview of each of the following sections. can include a site map -->
 +
<div style="float: right">
 +
{{#display_map: height=200px | width=300px | scrollzoom=off | zoom=5 | layers= OpenStreetMap, OpenTopoMap
 +
|5.378432, -8.496117~[[Sapo National Park]]~Western Chimpanzee
 +
}}
 +
</div>
 +
* Western chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes verus'') are present in Sapo National Park.
 +
* It has been estimated that 1,055 (CI: 595-1,870) individuals occur in the site.
 +
* The chimpanzee population trend is stable.
 +
* The park has a total size of 1,804 km².
 +
* Key threats to chimpanzees are poaching and illegal mining.
 +
* Conservation activities have focused on long-term bio-monitoring and law enforcement.
 +
* Sapo National Park is Liberia's first protected area, established in 1983.
  
−
* Western chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes verus'') are present in Gola Forest National Park.
+
= Site characteristics = <!-- A paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, and a table of key information -->
−
* The total abundance was 94 (95% CI: 225-539) in 2012.
 
−
* The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
 
−
* This site has a total size of 880 km².
 
−
* Major threats to chimpanzees are hunting and habitat disturbance due to illegal farming, logging and mining activities.
 
−
* BirdLife International, the Society for the Conservation of Nature in Liberia, and the Forestry Development Authority of Liberia worked together on the establishment of Gola Forest National Park. These three are also the main organizations implementing conservation activities in the park.
 
−
* Gola Forest National Park is adjacent to the Gola Rainforest National Park in Sierra Leone, forming a transboundary peace park.
 
  
−
= Site characteristics = <!-- A paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, and a table of key information -->
+
Located in southeastern Liberia, Sapo National Park is Liberia's first protected area and represents one of the most intact forest ecosystems of the country (Tweh et al. 2018). The area of the park was extended from 1,304 km² to 1,804 km² in 2003 (Tweh et al. 2018). The park forms part of the Upper Guinean Forest ecosystem, and contains high levels of biodiversity (N'Goran et al. 2010). The park is a low elevation tropical humid rainforest. Elevation in the southeastern area is approximately 100m with gently rolling hills while in the north, the elevation is approximately 400m in the north with steep ridges (Peal & Kranz 1990). In addition to the western chimpanzee, other endangered and vulnerable species inhabit the site, including forest elephants (''Loxodonta africana''), pygmy hippopotamus (''Hexaprotodon liberiensis''), Jentink’s duiker (''Cephalophus jentinki''), red colobus (''Piliocolobus badius''), and Diana monkeys (''Cercopithecus diana diana'', N'Goran 2010).
  
−
Situated in northwest Liberia, the site was first classified as a National Forest in 1960 (Hoke et al. 2007), and designated as National Park in 2016 (Rainforest Trust 2018). The park is located in the Upper Guinea Forest of West Africa, a biodiversity hotspot with very high rates of endemism (Hoke et al. 2007). In addition to chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes verus''), other endangered mammal species inhabit the site, including Jentink’s duiker (''Cephalophus jentinki''), forest elephant (''Loxodonta africana cyclotis''), pygmy hippopotamus (''Hexaprotodon liberiensis''), leopard (''Panthera pardus''), bongo (''Tragelaphus euryceros'') (Barrie et al. 2007). The site has also been declared an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International (BirdLife International 2019). Gola Forest National Park is strategically connected to Sierra Leone’s Gola Rainforest National Park to establish a bi-national peace park (Rainforest Trust 2018).
 
  
−
'''Table 1: Basic site information for Gola Forest National Park '''
+
'''Table 1. Basic site information for Sapo National Park'''
 
{| 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    -->
−
|880 km²
+
|1804 km²
 +
|-
 +
|Coordinates            <!-- coords    -->
 +
|5.378432, -8.496117
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Designation:      <!-- Protected area, Forestry concession, Community reserve  -->
+
|Designation:      <!-- Protected area, Forestry concession, Community reserve  -->
−
|National Park
+
|National park
 
|-
 
|-
 
|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 -->
Line 41: Line 50:
 
= Ape status =  <!-- a text overview of ape status (population sizes, trends etc), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->
 
= Ape status =  <!-- a text overview of ape status (population sizes, trends etc), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->
  
−
The most recent estimate of chimpanzee abundance in Gola National Forest was 94 in the year 2012 (Tweh et al. 2014). Due to a lack of survey data, the population trend in unknown.
+
A survey in 1982 (one year before the establishment of the park), confirmed the presence of chimpanzees in the Sapo forest (Anderson et al. 1983). Based on the estimates from two surveys, one in 2009 (N'Goran et al. 2010) and a second one in 2017 (Tweh et al. 2018), the chimpanzee population in the park has remained relatively stable, with an estimated abundance of approximately 1,055 individuals.  
  
−
'''Table 2: Great ape population estimates in Gola Forest National Park '''
+
'''Table 2. Great ape population estimates in Sapo National Park'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="population-estimate-table"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="population-estimate-table"
 
! Species
 
! Species
 
! Year
 
! Year
−
! Abundance estimate (95% Confidence Interval)
+
! Abundance estimate (95% CI)
−
! Density estimate (per km2)
+
! Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI)
 
! Encounter rate
 
! Encounter rate
 
! Area
 
! Area
Line 56: Line 65:
 
! A.P.E.S. database ID
 
! A.P.E.S. database ID
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Western chimpanzee
+
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
−
|2005
+
|1983
 +
|
 +
|0.24
 +
|Present
 +
|Southeastern sector of the park (50 km²)
 +
|Line transects (Distance)
 +
|Anderson et al. 1983
 +
|Total survey effort: 42.7 km
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
 +
|2002
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|Present
 +
|Sapo National Park
 +
|Line transects (Distance)
 +
|Waitkuwait 2003
 +
|Assessment of Fauna & Flora International's bio-monitoring programme
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
 +
|2007-2009
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
−
|absent
+
|0.27
−
|Gola National Forest
+
|Sapo National Park, excluding south east area
−
|transect survey
+
|Line transects (Distance)
−
|Barrie et al. 2007
+
|Vogt 2011
−
| hunters reported that chimpanzees were still present in parts of the forest
+
|Fauna & Flora International bio-monitoring programme
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Western chimpanzee
+
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
−
|2012
+
|2009
−
|94 (CI: 225-539)
+
|1079 (CI: 713-1633)
−
|0.110 individuals/km2
+
|0.86
 +
|4.05
 +
|Sapo National Park, excluding mining areas
 +
|Line transects (Distance)
 +
|N'Goran et al. 2010
 
|
 
|
−
|Gola National Forest
 
−
|transect survey
 
−
| Tweh et al. 2014
 
−
| survey effort: 118.3 km
 
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 +
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
 +
|2016-2017
 +
|1055 (CI: 595-1870)
 +
|0.83
 +
|
 +
|Sapo National Park, excluding south east area
 +
|Line transects (Distance)
 +
|Tweh et al. 2018
 +
|Total survey effort: 38.38 km
 +
|
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
= 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 -->
  
−
Several years of civil conflict in Liberia (1989-2003) led to the encroachment of Gola National Forest by displaced people and increased illegal mining and farming activities, as well as bushmeat hunting (Hoke et al. 2007). Illegal mining and logging activities were particularly aggravated by the civil wars (Hoke et al. 2007). Other major threats include bushmeat hunting and illegal farming activities (Hoke et al. 2007). Furthermore, since the end of the second civil war, the interest from international logging and mining companies to extract timber and mineral resources in the country was renewed (Tweh et al. 2014). In 2005, two mining companies were large-scale prospecting at Gola National Forest (Barrie et al. 2007).
+
Sapo National Park has been primarily threatened by illegal hunting and mining (Tweh et al. 2018; Greengrass 2015; N'Goran et al. 2010). An estimated 18,000 illegal miners were inhabiting the park in 2010, the majority of which was evicted by the government on the same year (Vogt 2011). A survey of two commercial hunting camps bordering the park revealed high hunting pressure in the area, and the majority of bushmeat harvested was destined to urban areas (Greengrass 2015). The carcasses documented during this survey included chimpanzees as well as other endangered and vulnerable species, such as the red colobus monkey, Diana monkey, and pygmy hippopotamus. Furthermore, the development of the road network around the park is expected to increase hunting pressure and facilitate the bushmeat trade (Greengrass 2015), as well as other illegal activities in the park.
 +
 
 +
<div><ul>
 +
<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: IllegalMining_Sapo_BTally.jpg | 200px | thumb| right | Illegal mining activity in Sapo © Ben Tally]] </li>
 +
<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: MiningCamp_Sapo_BTally.jpg | 200px | thumb| right | Mining camp © Ben Tally]] </li>
 +
<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: IllegalMining_BTally.jpg | 200px | thumb| right |Illegal mining © Ben Tally]] </li>
 +
<li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Patrol_SMART.jpg | 200px | thumb| right |Illegal mining © Ben Tally]] </li>
 +
</ul></div>
  
−
'''Table 3: Threats to great apes in Gola Forest National Park'''
+
'''Table 3. Threats to great apes in Sapo National Park'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="threats-table"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="threats-table"
 
!align="left"|Category  <!-- Do not change threat categories -->
 
!align="left"|Category  <!-- Do not change threat categories -->
 
!Specific threats    <!-- For specific threats, please use list of comma separated keywords from the list linked below -->
 
!Specific threats    <!-- For specific threats, please use list of comma separated keywords from the list linked below -->
 
!Threat level        <!-- For threat level, please use keywords: unknown, low, high -->
 
!Threat level        <!-- For threat level, please use keywords: unknown, low, high -->
 +
!Quantified severity
 
!Description        <!-- You can add descriptive information here -->
 
!Description        <!-- You can add descriptive information here -->
 
!Year of threat
 
!Year of threat
 
|-
 
|-
 
|1. Residential & commercial development
 
|1. Residential & commercial development
−
|1.1 Housing & Urban Areas
+
|1.1 Housing & urban areas
−
| present
+
|High
−
| illegal settlement of displaced people due to civil conflict [1]
+
|18,000 settlers in 2010
−
|1989-2003
+
|Illegal settlement of miners (Vogt 2011)
 +
|2010
 
|-
 
|-
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
−
| 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops
+
|2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops  
−
| present
+
|Present
−
| illegal farming activities [1]
 
 
|
 
|
 +
|Present as a result of illegal settlements; scale unknown (N’Goran et al. 2010)
 +
|Ongoing (2010)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|3. Energy production & mining
 
|3. Energy production & mining
−
|3.2 Mining & quarrying
+
|3.2.3 Artisanal mining
−
| high
+
|High
−
| illegal artisanal mining, especially during the Liberian civil wars [3, 5]
+
|
−
| ongoing
+
|Illicit gold mining which has decreased since 2010 (Tweh et al. 2018); artisanal mining is still present (Junket per. comm. 2019)
 +
|Ongoing ( 2019)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|4. Transportation & service corridors
 
|4. Transportation & service corridors
−
| 4.1 Roads & railroads
+
|4.1 Roads & railroads  
−
| present
+
|Present
−
| trails created by heavy machinery and poachers [3]
+
|
−
|2005
+
|Development of the road network around the park facilitates illegal human activities in the park (Greengrass 2015)
 +
|Ongoing (2015)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|5. Biological resource use
 
|5. Biological resource use
−
| 5.1 Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals
+
|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals  
−
| high
+
|High
−
| bushmeat hunting [3, 5]
+
|Hunting sign encounter rate: 1.7/km (Tweh et al. 2018)
−
| ongoing
+
|Poaching represents a major threat to chimpanzees and other species in the park (Tweh et al. 2018, N’Goran et al. 2010, Greengrass 2015), and most of the bushmeat is destined to urban areas (Greengrass 2015)
 +
|Ongoing (2010, 2015, 2018)
 
|-
 
|-
−
|5. Biological resource use
+
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
−
|5.3 Logging & wood harvesting
+
|6.2 War, civil unrest & military exercises
−
| high
+
|High
−
| logging and pit-sawing [1]
 
 
|
 
|
−
|-
+
|Two civil wars since the establishment of the park disrupted conservation activities, and led to illegal occupation of the park, as well as poaching and extraction of natural resources (Greengrass 2015, Collen et al. 2011)
−
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
+
|1989-1996, 1999-2003
−
|6.2 War, civil unrest & military exercises
 
−
| high
 
−
| two civil wars resulted in the encroachment of the park by displaced people; illegal mining and logging activities were also aggravated during this time [1]
 
−
|1989-2003
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|7. Natural system modifications
 
|7. Natural system modifications
 
|
 
|
−
|absent
+
|Unknown
 +
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
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|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
 
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
 
|
 
|
−
|present
+
|Unknown
−
| Ebola virus disease was present in the counties of Grand Cape Mount and Gbarpolu, where the park is located [6]
+
|
−
|2014-2016
+
|
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|9. Pollution
 
|9. Pollution
 
|
 
|
−
|unknown
+
|Unknown
 +
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
Line 154: Line 206:
 
|10. Geological Events
 
|10. Geological Events
 
|
 
|
−
|absent
+
|Absent
 +
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
Line 160: Line 213:
 
| 11. Climate change & severe weather
 
| 11. Climate change & severe weather
 
|
 
|
−
|unknown
+
|Unknown
 +
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
Line 166: Line 220:
 
|12. Other options
 
|12. Other options
 
|
 
|
−
|unknown
+
|Absent
 +
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
−
[[Threats list]]
+
[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/threat-classification-scheme IUCN Threats list]
  
 
= Conservation activities =      <!-- a text overview of conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->
 
= Conservation activities =      <!-- a text overview of conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->
  
−
The site is part of BirdLife International´s ¨Forests of Hope¨ program, which aims to restore natural forests and support their long-term management (www.birdlife.org/worldwide/programmes/forests-hope). BirdLife International is also carrying out monitoring projects in the site (https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/projects/tropical-forests-research/). As part of the ¨GolaMa Project¨ (https://www.scnlliberia.org/our-work), the Society for Conservation of Nature in Liberia (SCNL) works to manage and protect the surrounding parts of the Gola forest that are not protected.  
+
The Forestry Development Authority of Liberia is responsible for the sustainable management of the forest sector and the protection of all natural resources. It runs the Sapo National Park in collaboration with Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF). Main activities at the national park level include anti-poaching, conservation education awareness, and bio-monitoring & scientific research. As of 2019, the main activities in the research area have been camera trappings (2019,2020, 2021) by FFI and FDA in the entire national park. eDNA (focusing on Pygmy hippopotamus) was conducted in 2022. The national park forms part of the Tai-Grebo-Sapo Forest Complex, which is a conservation priority in West Africa. Conservation efforts in Sapo National Park have mainly focused on law enforcement, conservation awareness, and bio-monitoring. The WCF has supported Community Watch Teams (CWT), which comprise members from surrounding communities, and regularly patrol and support FDA rangers (WCF 2019). CWTs have played an important role in the eviction of illegal miners from the national park (WCF 2019). In 2012, Fauna & Flora International established a long-term bio-monitoring program to follow the population trends for chimpanzees, pygmy hippopotamuses, elephants, as well as duikers, birds, reptiles, and amphibians (Tweh et al. 2018). Together with Liberia's Forestry Development Authority, permanent transects are surveyed twice a year as part of this long-term bio-monitoring program (Tweh et al. 2018).
−
<br>
 
  
−
'''Table 3: Conservation activities in Gola Forest National Park'''
+
'''Table 4. Conservation activities in Sapo National Park'''
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="conservation-actions-table"
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="conservation-actions-table"
 
!align="left"|Category  <!-- Do not change threat categories -->
 
!align="left"|Category  <!-- Do not change threat categories -->
Line 186: Line 240:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|1. Residential & commercial development
 
|1. Residential & commercial development
−
|absent
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
−
|absent
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|3. Energy production & mining
 
|3. Energy production & mining
−
|absent
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|4. Transportation & service corridors
 
|4. Transportation & service corridors
−
|absent
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|5. Biological resource use
 
|5. Biological resource use
−
| 5.6. Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols
+
|5.6. Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols
−
| forest guards of the Forestry Development Authority conduct poaching patrols [7]
+
|Community Watch Teams supported by the WCF regularly patrol the site (WCF 2019)
 +
|Ongoing (2019)
 +
|-
 
|
 
|
 +
|5.11. Provide training to anti-poaching ranger patrols
 +
|Members of the Community Watch Teams are trained in the use of equipment (GPS, compass, camera) and patrolling (WCF 2019)
 +
|Ongoing (2019)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|
 
|
−
| 5.15. Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g. SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement patrols
+
|5.15. Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g. SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement patrols
−
| monitoring work done by BirdLife International [//https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/projects/tropical-forests-research/ BirdLife International]
+
|Long-term bio-monitoring of chimpanzee population (Tweh et al. 2018)
−
|
+
|Ongoing (2019)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
 
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
−
|absent
+
|6.7. Resettle illegal human communities (i.e. in a protected area) to another location
−
|
+
|Eviction of 18,000 illegal settlers in the park by the Liberia's government (Vogt 2011)
−
|
+
|2010
 
|-
 
|-
 
|7. Natural system modifications
 
|7. Natural system modifications
−
| absent
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
 
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
−
| absent
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|9. Pollution
 
|9. Pollution
−
| absent
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|10. Education & Awareness  
 
|10. Education & Awareness  
−
| absent
+
|10.2. Involve local community in primate research and conservation management
−
|  
+
|As part of a long-term bio-monitoring program, staff of Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority and members of the local community are involved in the surveys (Tweh et al. 2018)
−
|  
+
|Ongoing (2018)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|11. Habitat Protection
 
|11. Habitat Protection
 
|11.2. Legally protect primate habitat  
 
|11.2. Legally protect primate habitat  
−
|the area was designated as National Park in 2016 [2]
+
|The area is designated as National Park (N’Goran et al. 2010)
−
|ongoing
+
|Ongoing (2010)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|12. Species Management
 
|12. Species Management
−
| absent
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives  
 
|13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives  
−
| absent
+
|Not reported
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
−
[[Conservation activities list]]
+
[[Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)]]
 +
 
 +
= Challenges = <!-- Overview of impediments to ape conservation -->
  
−
= Impediments = <!-- Overview of impediments to ape conservation -->
+
The influx of local community dwellers inside the national park is hampering the SNP management to implement the protection of chimpanzees. Low manpower for conducting anti-poaching patrols in and outside the park has put chimpanzees under serious threat.
 +
Very high illiteracy among the rangers thus making it difficult to collect data, process court procedures, and conduct conservation education awareness to local community people.
  
−
A lack of law enforcement has been cited as major problem, particularly with regards to the enforcement of laws that ban hunting within the protected area (Barrie et al. 2007, Jones et al. 2018).
 
−
<br><br>
 
−
[[Impediments list]]
 
−
<br>
 
  
−
= Research activities = <!-- Overview of research activities, and keyword list of documented behaviours -->
+
'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Sapo National Park'''
 +
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="impediments-table"
 +
!align="left"|Challenge  <!-- Do not change categories -->
 +
!Source  <!-- source for impediment mentioned -->
 +
|-
 +
|Lack of law enforcement
 +
|Greengrass 2015, N'Goran et al. 2010
 +
|-
 +
|Lack of technical means
 +
|Tweh et al. 2018
 +
|-
 +
|Lack of logistical means
 +
|Waitkuwait 2003
 +
|-
 +
|Conflict on land tenure
 +
|Tally, B. pers. comm. 2022
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
−
Jones et al. (2018) evaluated the effectiveness of conservation interventions (e.g., participation in livelihood-support programs) in villages adjacent to Gola Forest National Park. The responsiveness of two different target groups (hunting households and high-impact hunters) to the same conservation interventions differed. This implies that audience segmentation could improve the effectiveness of conservation interventions, by targeting specific groups (Jones et al. 2018).
+
= Research activities = <!-- Overview of research activities -->
  
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===Documented behaviours===  <!-- Paragraph describing any behaviours observed at the site, including citations -->
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Several surveys have been done in the park to monitor the chimpanzee population (e.g., N'Goran et al. 2010, Tweh et al. 2018), assess the impacts of conservation interventions (Tweh et al. 2018), investigate the behavior and ecology of chimpanzees in the park (Anderson et al. 1983), and investigate the impact of hunting pressure in the area (Greengrass 2015).
  
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===Relevant datasets===
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===Documented behaviours===   <!-- List of any behaviours observed at the site, including citations -->
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[http://apesportal.eva.mpg.de/database/archiveMap A.P.E.S Portal]
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'''Table 6. Great ape behaviors reported for Sapo National Park'''
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{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="behaviors-table"
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!align="left"|Behavior  <!-- Do not change categories -->
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!Source  <!-- source for behavior -->
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|-
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|Nut cracking
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|Anderson et al. 1983
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|}
  
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= References =
 
= References =
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[1] Hoke, P., R. Demey and A. Peal (eds.) (2007) A rapid biological assessment of North Lorma, Gola and Grebo National Forests, Liberia. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 44. Conservation International, Arlington, VA, USA.<br>
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Tweh, C., Kouakou, C.Y., Chira, R., Freeman, B., Githaiga, J.M., Kerwillain, S., Molokwu-Odozi, M., Varney M. and Junker, J. 2018. Nest counts reveal a stable chimpanzee population in Sapo National Park, Liberia. Primate Conservation 2018 (32): 12 pp. <br>
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[2] Ranforest Trust (2018) Liberia Marks Official Launch of Gola Forest National Park With Community Ceremony. Online: https://www.rainforesttrust.org/liberia-marks-official-launch-of-gola-forest-national-park-with-community-ceremony/ <br>
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N’Goran, K. P., Kouakou, C.Y. and Herbinger I. 2010. Report on the Population Survey and Monitoring of Chimpanzee in Sapo National Park, Liberia (June–December 2009). Report. Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, Abidjan, Côted’Ivoire. <br>
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[3] Barrie, A., Zwuen, S., Kota, A.N., Lou, M. Sr, Luke, R. (2007) Rapid survey of large mammals of North Lorma, Gola and Grebo National Forests. In A Rapid Biological Assessment of North Lorma, Gola and Grebo National Forests, Liberia (eds P. Hoke, R. Demey & A. Peal), pp. 59–64. Conservation International, Washington, DC, USA.<br>
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Anderson, R., Williamson, E.A., and Carter, J. 1983. Chimpanzees of Sapo Forest, Liberia: density, nests, tools and meat-eating. PRIMAaXS, 24(4): 594-601.  <br>
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[4] BirdLife International (2019) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Lofa-Gola-Mano Complex. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/03/2019.<br>
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Waitkuwait, W.E. 2003. Report on the First Year of Operation of a Community-based Bio-monitoring Programme in and around Sapo National Park, Sinoe County, Liberia. Report. Fauna and Flora International.  <br>
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[5] Tweh, C., Kouakou, C.Y., Chira, R., Freeman, B., Githaiga, J.M., Kerwillain, S., Molokwu-Odozi, M., Varney M. and Junker, J.(2018) Nest counts reveal a stable chimpanzee population in Sapo National Park, Liberia. Primate Conservation 2018 (32): 12 pp.<br>
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Vogt, M. 2011. Results of Sapo National Park Bio-Monitoring Programme 2007-2009. Report. Fauna & Flora International, Monrovia, Liberia. <br>
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[6] CDC (2017) 2014-2016 Ebola Outbreak Distribution in West Africa. Online: https://www.cdc.gov <br>
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Greengrass, E. 2015. Commercial hunting to supply urban markets threatens mammalian biodiversity in Sapo National Park. Oryx 50(3), 397–404. <br>
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[7] BirdLife International (2014) Are we finally almost there? The Gola Forest National Park gazettement in Liberia: an update. Online: https://www.birdlife.org/africa/news/are-we-finally-almost-there-gola-forest-national-park-gazettement-liberia-update <br>
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Collen, B., Howard, B., Konie, J., Daniel, O., and Rist, J. 2011. Field surveys for the endangered pygmy hippopotamus Choerpsis liberiensis in Sapo National Park, Liberia. Oryx, 45(1), 35–37. <br>
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[8] Jones S., Keane A., St John F., Vickery J., Papworth S. (2019) Audience segmentation to improve targeting of conservation interventions for hunters: Audience Segmentation. Conservation Biology. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13275. <br>
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Wild Chimpanzee Foundation. 2019. Activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Annual Report 2018.  
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Peal, A. L., & Kranz, K. R. (1990). Antelopes: GLobal Survey and Regional Action Plans, Part 3. West and
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Central Africa. Gland, Switzerland: World Conservation Union.
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'''Page completed by:''' Ben Tally & A.P.E.S. Wiki Team '''Date:''' 23/01/23 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->
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'''Page completed by:''' A.P.E.S. Wiki Team '''Date:''' 25/03/19 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->
 
 
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Latest revision as of 03:20, 20 November 2024

West Africa > Liberia > Sapo National Park

Summary

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  • Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in Sapo National Park.
  • It has been estimated that 1,055 (CI: 595-1,870) individuals occur in the site.
  • The chimpanzee population trend is stable.
  • The park has a total size of 1,804 km².
  • Key threats to chimpanzees are poaching and illegal mining.
  • Conservation activities have focused on long-term bio-monitoring and law enforcement.
  • Sapo National Park is Liberia's first protected area, established in 1983.

Site characteristics

Located in southeastern Liberia, Sapo National Park is Liberia's first protected area and represents one of the most intact forest ecosystems of the country (Tweh et al. 2018). The area of the park was extended from 1,304 km² to 1,804 km² in 2003 (Tweh et al. 2018). The park forms part of the Upper Guinean Forest ecosystem, and contains high levels of biodiversity (N'Goran et al. 2010). The park is a low elevation tropical humid rainforest. Elevation in the southeastern area is approximately 100m with gently rolling hills while in the north, the elevation is approximately 400m in the north with steep ridges (Peal & Kranz 1990). In addition to the western chimpanzee, other endangered and vulnerable species inhabit the site, including forest elephants (Loxodonta africana), pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis), Jentink’s duiker (Cephalophus jentinki), red colobus (Piliocolobus badius), and Diana monkeys (Cercopithecus diana diana, N'Goran 2010).


Table 1. Basic site information for Sapo National Park

Area: 1804 km²
Coordinates 5.378432, -8.496117
Designation: National park
Habitat types: Subtropical/tropical moist lowland

IUCN habitat categories Site designations

Ape status

A survey in 1982 (one year before the establishment of the park), confirmed the presence of chimpanzees in the Sapo forest (Anderson et al. 1983). Based on the estimates from two surveys, one in 2009 (N'Goran et al. 2010) and a second one in 2017 (Tweh et al. 2018), the chimpanzee population in the park has remained relatively stable, with an estimated abundance of approximately 1,055 individuals.

Table 2. Great ape population estimates in Sapo National Park

Species Year Abundance estimate (95% CI) Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) Encounter rate Area Method Source Comments A.P.E.S. database ID
Pan troglodytes verus 1983 0.24 Present Southeastern sector of the park (50 km²) Line transects (Distance) Anderson et al. 1983 Total survey effort: 42.7 km
Pan troglodytes verus 2002 Present Sapo National Park Line transects (Distance) Waitkuwait 2003 Assessment of Fauna & Flora International's bio-monitoring programme
Pan troglodytes verus 2007-2009 0.27 Sapo National Park, excluding south east area Line transects (Distance) Vogt 2011 Fauna & Flora International bio-monitoring programme
Pan troglodytes verus 2009 1079 (CI: 713-1633) 0.86 4.05 Sapo National Park, excluding mining areas Line transects (Distance) N'Goran et al. 2010
Pan troglodytes verus 2016-2017 1055 (CI: 595-1870) 0.83 Sapo National Park, excluding south east area Line transects (Distance) Tweh et al. 2018 Total survey effort: 38.38 km

Threats

Sapo National Park has been primarily threatened by illegal hunting and mining (Tweh et al. 2018; Greengrass 2015; N'Goran et al. 2010). An estimated 18,000 illegal miners were inhabiting the park in 2010, the majority of which was evicted by the government on the same year (Vogt 2011). A survey of two commercial hunting camps bordering the park revealed high hunting pressure in the area, and the majority of bushmeat harvested was destined to urban areas (Greengrass 2015). The carcasses documented during this survey included chimpanzees as well as other endangered and vulnerable species, such as the red colobus monkey, Diana monkey, and pygmy hippopotamus. Furthermore, the development of the road network around the park is expected to increase hunting pressure and facilitate the bushmeat trade (Greengrass 2015), as well as other illegal activities in the park.

  • Illegal mining activity in Sapo © Ben Tally
  • Mining camp © Ben Tally
  • Illegal mining © Ben Tally
  • Illegal mining © Ben Tally

Table 3. Threats to great apes in Sapo National Park

Category Specific threats Threat level Quantified severity Description Year of threat
1. Residential & commercial development 1.1 Housing & urban areas High 18,000 settlers in 2010 Illegal settlement of miners (Vogt 2011) 2010
2. Agriculture & aquaculture 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops Present Present as a result of illegal settlements; scale unknown (N’Goran et al. 2010) Ongoing (2010)
3. Energy production & mining 3.2.3 Artisanal mining High Illicit gold mining which has decreased since 2010 (Tweh et al. 2018); artisanal mining is still present (Junket per. comm. 2019) Ongoing ( 2019)
4. Transportation & service corridors 4.1 Roads & railroads Present Development of the road network around the park facilitates illegal human activities in the park (Greengrass 2015) Ongoing (2015)
5. Biological resource use 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals High Hunting sign encounter rate: 1.7/km (Tweh et al. 2018) Poaching represents a major threat to chimpanzees and other species in the park (Tweh et al. 2018, N’Goran et al. 2010, Greengrass 2015), and most of the bushmeat is destined to urban areas (Greengrass 2015) Ongoing (2010, 2015, 2018)
6. Human intrusion & disturbance 6.2 War, civil unrest & military exercises High Two civil wars since the establishment of the park disrupted conservation activities, and led to illegal occupation of the park, as well as poaching and extraction of natural resources (Greengrass 2015, Collen et al. 2011) 1989-1996, 1999-2003
7. Natural system modifications Unknown
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

The Forestry Development Authority of Liberia is responsible for the sustainable management of the forest sector and the protection of all natural resources. It runs the Sapo National Park in collaboration with Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF). Main activities at the national park level include anti-poaching, conservation education awareness, and bio-monitoring & scientific research. As of 2019, the main activities in the research area have been camera trappings (2019,2020, 2021) by FFI and FDA in the entire national park. eDNA (focusing on Pygmy hippopotamus) was conducted in 2022. The national park forms part of the Tai-Grebo-Sapo Forest Complex, which is a conservation priority in West Africa. Conservation efforts in Sapo National Park have mainly focused on law enforcement, conservation awareness, and bio-monitoring. The WCF has supported Community Watch Teams (CWT), which comprise members from surrounding communities, and regularly patrol and support FDA rangers (WCF 2019). CWTs have played an important role in the eviction of illegal miners from the national park (WCF 2019). In 2012, Fauna & Flora International established a long-term bio-monitoring program to follow the population trends for chimpanzees, pygmy hippopotamuses, elephants, as well as duikers, birds, reptiles, and amphibians (Tweh et al. 2018). Together with Liberia's Forestry Development Authority, permanent transects are surveyed twice a year as part of this long-term bio-monitoring program (Tweh et al. 2018).

Table 4. Conservation activities in Sapo National Park

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 Community Watch Teams supported by the WCF regularly patrol the site (WCF 2019) Ongoing (2019)
5.11. Provide training to anti-poaching ranger patrols Members of the Community Watch Teams are trained in the use of equipment (GPS, compass, camera) and patrolling (WCF 2019) Ongoing (2019)
5.15. Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g. SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement patrols Long-term bio-monitoring of chimpanzee population (Tweh et al. 2018) Ongoing (2019)
6. Human intrusion & disturbance 6.7. Resettle illegal human communities (i.e. in a protected area) to another location Eviction of 18,000 illegal settlers in the park by the Liberia's government (Vogt 2011) 2010
7. Natural system modifications Not reported
8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases Not reported
9. Pollution Not reported
10. Education & Awareness 10.2. Involve local community in primate research and conservation management As part of a long-term bio-monitoring program, staff of Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority and members of the local community are involved in the surveys (Tweh et al. 2018) Ongoing (2018)
11. Habitat Protection 11.2. Legally protect primate habitat The area is designated as National Park (N’Goran et al. 2010) Ongoing (2010)
12. Species Management Not reported
13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives Not reported

Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)

Challenges

The influx of local community dwellers inside the national park is hampering the SNP management to implement the protection of chimpanzees. Low manpower for conducting anti-poaching patrols in and outside the park has put chimpanzees under serious threat. Very high illiteracy among the rangers thus making it difficult to collect data, process court procedures, and conduct conservation education awareness to local community people.


Table 5. Challenges reported for Sapo National Park

Challenge Source
Lack of law enforcement Greengrass 2015, N'Goran et al. 2010
Lack of technical means Tweh et al. 2018
Lack of logistical means Waitkuwait 2003
Conflict on land tenure Tally, B. pers. comm. 2022

Research activities

Several surveys have been done in the park to monitor the chimpanzee population (e.g., N'Goran et al. 2010, Tweh et al. 2018), assess the impacts of conservation interventions (Tweh et al. 2018), investigate the behavior and ecology of chimpanzees in the park (Anderson et al. 1983), and investigate the impact of hunting pressure in the area (Greengrass 2015).

Documented behaviours

Table 6. Great ape behaviors reported for Sapo National Park

Behavior Source
Nut cracking Anderson et al. 1983


References

Tweh, C., Kouakou, C.Y., Chira, R., Freeman, B., Githaiga, J.M., Kerwillain, S., Molokwu-Odozi, M., Varney M. and Junker, J. 2018. Nest counts reveal a stable chimpanzee population in Sapo National Park, Liberia. Primate Conservation 2018 (32): 12 pp.
N’Goran, K. P., Kouakou, C.Y. and Herbinger I. 2010. Report on the Population Survey and Monitoring of Chimpanzee in Sapo National Park, Liberia (June–December 2009). Report. Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, Abidjan, Côted’Ivoire.
Anderson, R., Williamson, E.A., and Carter, J. 1983. Chimpanzees of Sapo Forest, Liberia: density, nests, tools and meat-eating. PRIMAaXS, 24(4): 594-601.
Waitkuwait, W.E. 2003. Report on the First Year of Operation of a Community-based Bio-monitoring Programme in and around Sapo National Park, Sinoe County, Liberia. Report. Fauna and Flora International.
Vogt, M. 2011. Results of Sapo National Park Bio-Monitoring Programme 2007-2009. Report. Fauna & Flora International, Monrovia, Liberia.
Greengrass, E. 2015. Commercial hunting to supply urban markets threatens mammalian biodiversity in Sapo National Park. Oryx 50(3), 397–404.
Collen, B., Howard, B., Konie, J., Daniel, O., and Rist, J. 2011. Field surveys for the endangered pygmy hippopotamus Choerpsis liberiensis in Sapo National Park, Liberia. Oryx, 45(1), 35–37.
Wild Chimpanzee Foundation. 2019. Activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Annual Report 2018. Peal, A. L., & Kranz, K. R. (1990). Antelopes: GLobal Survey and Regional Action Plans, Part 3. West and Central Africa. Gland, Switzerland: World Conservation Union.


Page completed by: Ben Tally & A.P.E.S. Wiki Team Date: 23/01/23

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