Difference between revisions of "Bia Conservation Area"

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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 -->
 
[[File: chimpanzee_OforiAmanfo.jpg | 400px | thumb| right | Chimpanzee captured on a camera trap © Richard Ofori-Amanfo]]
 
[[File: chimpanzee_OforiAmanfo.jpg | 400px | thumb| right | Chimpanzee captured on a camera trap © Richard Ofori-Amanfo]]
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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, between the Bia River and the border with Côte d’Ivoire. BCA encompasses Bia National Park and Bia Resource Reserve; Bia National Park is 78 km2 and Bia Resource Reserve is 228 km2. 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). It is planned for the entire area to be upgraded to national park status (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).
  
 
'''Table 1. Basic site information for Bia Conservation Area'''
 
'''Table 1. Basic site information for Bia Conservation Area'''
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[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/habitat-classification-scheme IUCN habitat categories] [[Site designations]]
 
[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/habitat-classification-scheme IUCN habitat categories] [[Site designations]]
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{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHDknLH4bYc|320x210|inline}}
 
= 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 -->
  
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|
 
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[[File: Bia NP headquarters PK Quansah.jpg | 400px | thumb| right | Bia National Park headquarters © Papa Kwaw Quansah]]
 
= 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). 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.
+
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 hunt in the park and set snares that also affect chimpanzees. Although poaching is not very frequent, it is a main threat because of the site’s low chimpanzee population abundance. Farm raids by wildlife resulting in human-wildlife conflict with elephants the most but chimpanzees are also involved. And with chimpanzees being low in numbers compared to elephants, it means a major threat to the chimpanzee population (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).  
  
 
'''Table 3. Threats to apes in Bia Conservation Area'''
 
'''Table 3. Threats to apes in Bia Conservation Area'''
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|1. Residential & commercial development
 
|1. Residential & commercial development
 
|
 
|
−
|Unknown
+
|Absent
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
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|-
 
|-
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
 
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
 +
|2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops
 +
|Low
 
|
 
|
−
|Unknown
+
|Habitat encroachment due to agriculture (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).
−
|
+
|1974-Ongoing (2023)
−
|
 
−
|
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|3. Energy production & mining
 
|3. Energy production & mining
 
|
 
|
−
|Unknown
+
|Absent
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
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|4. Transportation & service corridors
 
|4. Transportation & service corridors
 
|
 
|
−
|Unknown
+
|Absent
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|
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|Medium
 
|Medium
 
|5.69 human signs/km
 
|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). Poaching of wildlife which includes illegal entry with guns to kill wildlife and setting of traps like wire snares (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).
−
|Ongoing (2022)
+
|1935-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
+
|Hunting for tree Hyrax with the use of fires, resulting sometimes in bushfires (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).
−
|
+
|1935-Ongoing (2023)
−
|
 
−
|
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
 
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
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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.
 
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.
 +
Between February and September 2023, the park conducted a programme, with funding from the Africa Elephant Fund (AEF), in 11 human wildlife hotspot communities where wildlife (with emphasis on elephants) invade community farms and livelihoods resulting in human wildlife conflict situations sometimes resulting in reprisal killings of wildlife. These communities were sensitised and educated on ways to mitigate human wildlife conflicts. Community Volunteer Squads were then formed, trained and given implements and the necessary tools and education to prevent wildlife raids on farms which results in human wildlife conflicts (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).
  
 
'''Table 4. Conservation activities in Bia Conservation Area'''
 
'''Table 4. Conservation activities in Bia Conservation Area'''
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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
−
|Wildlife patrol teams regularly conduct law enforcement duties within and around the protected area (Danquah, E., 2022).
+
|Wildlife patrol teams regularly conduct law enforcement duties within and around the protected area (Danquah, E., 2022). Anti-poaching operations (day, night and long patrols) (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
−
|Ongoing (2022)
+
|1974-Ongoing (2023)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
 
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
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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
−
|Community outreach team that goes to the communities to educate them about the need to conserve natural resources including the chimpanzees.
+
|Conservation education and outreach programmes in communities around the Park (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
−
|Ongoing (2023)
+
|2000-Ongoing (2023)
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|10.2. Involve local community in primate research and conservation management
 +
|Communities around the park are aggregated into 10 Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) where they have a constitution and management plans backed by the local government to regulate the use of their natural resources and also help protect the protected area from human entering (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).
 +
|1974-Ongoing (2023)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|11. Habitat Protection
 
|11. Habitat Protection
−
|Not reported
+
|11.2. Legally protect primate habitat
 
|
 
|
 +
|1935-Ongoing (2023)
 +
|-
 
|
 
|
 +
|11.6. Demarcate and enforce boundaries of protected areas
 +
|Fifty (50) missing, broken and defaced boundary pillars replaced (out of a total of 115 boundary pillar points identified) to properly demarcate and delineate the park from fringe farms and prevent encroachment into the park (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).
 +
|2020
 +
|-
 +
|
 +
|Other
 +
|Enrichment planting has been carried out with some different kinds of indigenous tree species in some degraded portions of the Resource Reserve. The entire Bia Conservation Area boundary has been planted with indigenous tree species to prevent encroachment into the Park (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023, Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).
 +
|2018-2022
 
|-
 
|-
 
|12. Species Management
 
|12. Species Management
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|-
 
|-
 
|13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives  
 
|13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives  
−
|Not reported
+
|13.2. Provide non-monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. better education, infrastructure development)
−
|
+
|Tropenbos Ghana, UNESCO, NCRC, and SNV Ghana support income generating activities such as beekeeping and honey processing, palm oil processing, soap production, snail farming, and mushroom cultivation (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).
−
|
+
|1993-Ongoing (2023)
 +
|-
 +
|13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives
 +
|13.2. Provide non-monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. better education, infrastructure development)
 +
|Provision of school and other infrastructural development (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).
 +
|1974-Ongoing (2023)
 +
|-
 +
|13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives
 +
|13.1. Provide monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. REDD, employment)
 +
|The park has been employing community people around the park as staff since the park was established in 1974 up till now. In the last 5 years the park has employed  about 10 people in communities surrounding the park (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).
 +
|1974-Ongoing (2023)
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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|Lack of logistical means
 
|Lack of logistical means
 
|Danquah, E. pers. observation 2022
 
|Danquah, E. pers. observation 2022
 +
|-
 +
|Lack of funding
 +
|Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023
 +
|-
 +
|Lack of staff
 +
|Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023
 +
|-
 +
|Lack of infrastructure maintenance
 +
|Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023
 +
|-
 +
|Lack of research to know animal numbers and reliable resource data
 +
|Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023
 +
|-
 +
|Outdated management plan
 +
|Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023
 +
|-
 +
|Inaccessible internal roads within the park to improve internal patrols and tourism
 +
|Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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<br>
 
<br>
−
'''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" -->
+
Cite as: Danquah, E., Ofori-Amanfo, R. &  Papa Kwaw Quansah (2023) Bia Conservation Area. A.P.E.S. Wiki. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://wiki.iucnapesportal.org/index.php/Bia_Conservation_Area
 +
'''Page completed by: '''Emmanuel Danquah, Richard Ofori-Amanfo & Papa Kwaw Quansah''' Date:''' 17/11/2023 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->

Latest revision as of 02:35, 22 July 2024

West Africa > Ghana > Bia Conservation Area

Summary

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  • Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in the Bia Conservation Area.
  • The population size is estimated at 34 weaned individuals.
  • The chimpanzee population trend is decreasing.
  • The site has a total size of 306 km².
  • Illegal hunting is the main threat.
  • Conservation activities have focused on anti-poaching patrols.

Site characteristics

Chimpanzee captured on a camera trap © Richard Ofori-Amanfo

The Bia Conservation Area (BCA) forms a 306km2 block in the moist evergreen and moist semi-deciduous forest zones of western Ghana, between the Bia River and the border with Côte d’Ivoire. BCA encompasses Bia National Park and Bia Resource Reserve; Bia National Park is 78 km2 and Bia Resource Reserve is 228 km2. 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). It is planned for the entire area to be upgraded to national park status (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).

Table 1. Basic site information for Bia Conservation Area

Area 306 km²
Coordinates 6.481132, -3.112847
Designation Conservation Area
Habitat types Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest

IUCN habitat categories Site designations

Ape status

Wildlife patrol team encounters with chimpanzee signs indicate a decreasing trend (Danquah, E., pers. comm. 2022).

Table 2. Ape population estimates in Bia Conservation Area

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 2019-2020 34 Bia Conservation Area Line transects (Distance) Ofori-Amanfo, R. pers comm. 2023 Estimate for weaned individuals
Bia National Park headquarters © Papa Kwaw Quansah

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). Poachers still hunt in the park and set snares that also affect chimpanzees. Although poaching is not very frequent, it is a main threat because of the site’s low chimpanzee population abundance. Farm raids by wildlife resulting in human-wildlife conflict with elephants the most but chimpanzees are also involved. And with chimpanzees being low in numbers compared to elephants, it means a major threat to the chimpanzee population (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).

Table 3. Threats to apes in Bia Conservation Area

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 Low Habitat encroachment due to agriculture (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023). 1974-Ongoing (2023)
3. Energy production & mining Absent
4. Transportation & service corridors Absent
5. Biological resource use 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals Medium 5.69 human signs/km Cartridge cases and wire snares (Danquah, E. pers. comm. 2022). Poaching of wildlife which includes illegal entry with guns to kill wildlife and setting of traps like wire snares (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023). 1935-Ongoing (2023)
6. Human intrusion & disturbance Unknown
7. Natural system modifications 7.1 Fire & fire suppression Low Hunting for tree Hyrax with the use of fires, resulting sometimes in bushfires (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023). 1935-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

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. Between February and September 2023, the park conducted a programme, with funding from the Africa Elephant Fund (AEF), in 11 human wildlife hotspot communities where wildlife (with emphasis on elephants) invade community farms and livelihoods resulting in human wildlife conflict situations sometimes resulting in reprisal killings of wildlife. These communities were sensitised and educated on ways to mitigate human wildlife conflicts. Community Volunteer Squads were then formed, trained and given implements and the necessary tools and education to prevent wildlife raids on farms which results in human wildlife conflicts (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023).

Table 4. Conservation activities in Bia Conservation Area

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 patrol teams regularly conduct law enforcement duties within and around the protected area (Danquah, E., 2022). Anti-poaching operations (day, night and long patrols) (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). 1974-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 and outreach programmes in communities around the Park (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). 2000-Ongoing (2023)
10.2. Involve local community in primate research and conservation management Communities around the park are aggregated into 10 Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) where they have a constitution and management plans backed by the local government to regulate the use of their natural resources and also help protect the protected area from human entering (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023). 1974-Ongoing (2023)
11. Habitat Protection 11.2. Legally protect primate habitat 1935-Ongoing (2023)
11.6. Demarcate and enforce boundaries of protected areas Fifty (50) missing, broken and defaced boundary pillars replaced (out of a total of 115 boundary pillar points identified) to properly demarcate and delineate the park from fringe farms and prevent encroachment into the park (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023). 2020
Other Enrichment planting has been carried out with some different kinds of indigenous tree species in some degraded portions of the Resource Reserve. The entire Bia Conservation Area boundary has been planted with indigenous tree species to prevent encroachment into the Park (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023, Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023). 2018-2022
12. Species Management Not reported
13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives 13.2. Provide non-monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. better education, infrastructure development) Tropenbos Ghana, UNESCO, NCRC, and SNV Ghana support income generating activities such as beekeeping and honey processing, palm oil processing, soap production, snail farming, and mushroom cultivation (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023). 1993-Ongoing (2023)
13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives 13.2. Provide non-monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. better education, infrastructure development) Provision of school and other infrastructural development (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023). 1974-Ongoing (2023)
13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives 13.1. Provide monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. REDD, employment) The park has been employing community people around the park as staff since the park was established in 1974 up till now. In the last 5 years the park has employed about 10 people in communities surrounding the park (Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023). 1974-Ongoing (2023)

Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)

Challenges

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

Challenge Source
Lack of logistical means Danquah, E. pers. observation 2022
Lack of funding Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023
Lack of staff Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023
Lack of infrastructure maintenance Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023
Lack of research to know animal numbers and reliable resource data Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023
Outdated management plan Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023
Inaccessible internal roads within the park to improve internal patrols and tourism Quansah P. K., pers. comm. 2023

Research activities

Bia Conservation Area is part of the Pan African Programme: The Cultured Chimpanzee (PanAf).

Documented behaviours

Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Bia Conservation Area

Behavior Source
Not reported

External links

References


Cite as: Danquah, E., Ofori-Amanfo, R. & Papa Kwaw Quansah (2023) Bia Conservation Area. A.P.E.S. Wiki. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://wiki.iucnapesportal.org/index.php/Bia_Conservation_Area Page completed by: Emmanuel Danquah, Richard Ofori-Amanfo & Papa Kwaw Quansah Date: 17/11/2023

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