Dja Biosphere (or Faunal) Reserve
Central Africa > Cameroon > Dja Biosphere (or Faunal) Reserve
Summary
- Central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) and western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are present in Dja Biosphere Reserve.
- It has been estimated that 1,258 (95% CI: 779–2,031) gorillas and 2,313 (95% CI: 1,568–3,411) chimpanzees inhabit the site.
- The great ape population trend is decreasing.
- The site has a total size of 5,260 km².
- Key threats to great apes are poaching, livestock farming, land conversion, forestry and mining activities.
- Conservation activities have focused on poaching patrols, law enforcement, and programs that support local communities .
- The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It is one of the largest and best protected African rainforests, with approximately 90% of its area remaining undisturbed.
Site characteristics
The Dja Biosphere Reserve includes the formal Dja Faunal Reserve and its buffer zone, which comprise logging concessions (also known in Cameroon as Forestry Management Units - FMUs), settlements, and community forests. Rubber plantations and a hydroelectric dam with a reservoir on the Dja River in the western buffer zone are also present (Bruce et al. 2018). Approximately 80% of the reserve is surrounded by the Dja River, providing a natural barrier and some limited protection to the reserve (Nguiffo 2001). The reserve is a relatively flat plateau of round-topped hills (UNESCO 2015). The topography is mainly shallow valleys on either side of a ridgeline that cuts through the reserve east to west (MINFOF & IUCN 2015). In the floors of the valleys, swamp habitat becomes more common and tributaries throughout the reserve flow into the Dja River (UNESCO 2010, MINFOF & IUCN 2015). The three major types of forest in the reserve are mixed-species forest terra firma, monodominant forest where Gilbertiodendron dewevrei is the most abundant species, and periodically flooded forest (Djuikouo et al. 2010). The area comprises mainly dense evergreen Congo rainforest and is known to have a wide range of primate species. As the exploitation of timber resources increases, the Dja forest remains an important refuge for many plants and animal species, such as the moabi tree, Baillonella toxisperma (UNESCO 2015). The Dja Biosphere Reserve is home Western lowland gorilla, Central chimpanzee, Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus), giant pangolin (Manis gigantea), elephant (Loxodonta Africana cyclotis), mantled guereza (Colobus guereza), leopard (Panthera pardus), and many other species of wildlife (UNESCO 2015, Bruce et al. 2018). The reserve hosts a rich diversity of fauna including 109 mammal species, 360 bird species, and 61 fish species. It is also home to the world’s most important colony of grey-necked rockfowl (Picathartes oreas) with 50 active nests on the same rocky cliff (UNESCO 2015). More than 4,000 and 40,000 inhabitants live in the core and the surrounding areas of the Biosphere, respectively. Main ethnic groups in the area include the Badjoué, Boulou, Fang, Nzimé, Kakas, and the Baka pygmies. The two latter groups are semi-nomad. The Baka group are free to hunt within the reserve using traditional methods (UNESCO 2015).
Table 1. Basic site information for Dja Biosphere Reserve
| Area | 5,260 km² |
| Coordinates | 3.145201 N, 13.038452 E |
| Designation | Biosphere reserve |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical dry forest, subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical/tropical swamp forest |
Ape status
Between 1995 and 2018, there was a declining trend in estimates of density for forest elephants and great apes. Western lowland gorillas showed a roughly five-fold decrease in estimated densities between the two surveys. However, methodological differences in survey practice and analysis may be magnifying these apparent sharp declines between the 2015 and 2018 inventories. This is supported by the fact that great ape and forest elephant population estimates from surveys completed prior to the 2015 inventory are more in line with a more gradual decline in numbers for great apes and forest elephants (for example, N’Goran et al. 2017). Using the DFR western lowland gorilla densities estimated by Williamson and Usongo (1995), we can estimate 8,971 gorillas in 1995. The 2018 population estimate for western lowland gorillas in the DFR is 1,371, suggesting a decline of approximately 83% in numbers since 1995. However, both Williamson and Usongo (1995) and Latour (2010) population estimates were based only on the north-east sector of the reserve. For central chimpanzees, the 1995 estimate would be 4,155 individuals with a decline of roughly 30% in 2018.
Table 2. Ape population estimates in Dja Biosphere 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 troglodytes | 1995 | 4,155 | 0.79 | 620 sq.km | Line transects (Distance) | Willamson & Usongo (1995) | 17 transects totaling 94.7km were walked twice at intervals of 5-7 months. Abundance estimate is an extrapolation to the whole surface of the park. Latour (2010) only estimated population densities for the north-east sector of the reserve. | ||
| Gorilla gorilla gorilla | 1995 | 8,995 | 1.71 | 620 sq.km | Line transects (Distance) | Willamson & Usongo (1995) | 17 transects totaling 94.7km were walked twice at intervals of 5-7 months. Abundance estimate is an extrapolation to the whole surface of the park. Latour (2010) only estimated population densities for the north-east sector of the reserve. | ||
| Pan troglodytes troglodytes | 2010 | 3,524 | 0.67 | 0.48 | 620 sq.km | Line transects (Distance) | Latour (2010) | Abundance estimate is an extrapolation to the whole surface of the site. Williamson & Usongo (1995) only estimated population densities for the north-east sector of the reserve. 34 transects were walked in an area of 620 sq.km, totaling 43.4 km. | |
| Gorilla gorilla gorilla | 2010 | 9,362.8 | 1.78 | 1.18 | 620 sq.km | Line transects (Distance) | Latour (2010) | Abundance estimate is an extrapolation to the whole surface of the site. Williamson & Usongo (1995) only estimated population densities for the north-east sector of the reserve. 34 transects were walked in an area of 620 sq.km, totaling 43.4 km. | |
| Pan troglodytes troglodytes | 2018 | 2,313 (1,568–3,411) | 0.43 | 0.472 | Entire site (5260 sq.km) | Line transects (Distance) | Bruce et al. 2018 | 283 transects covered 298.2 km. Distance covered in recces: 1681.38 km. | |
| Gorilla gorilla gorilla | 2018 | 1,258 (779–2,031) | 0.24 | 0.413 | Entire site (5260 sq.km) | Line transects (Distance) | Bruce et al. 2018 | 283 transects covered 298.2 km. Distance covered in recces: 1681.38 km. |
Threats
Dja’s unique ecosystem and wildlife are in crisis due to high levels of poaching, the expansion of extractive industries, and a lack of capacity and support for the Cameroonian Government’s Conservation Service, which manages the Reserve (ZSL). Commercial logging, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure development contribute to habitat loss and fragmentation in Dja (Kubania 2019). Recent human population growth has increased deforestation and exacerbated the impacts of poaching and the illegal bushmeat trade. The populations of forest elephant, western lowland gorilla, and central chimpanzee within the Dja Faunal Reserve are relatively low compared to what the landscape and habitat could theoretically support. These populations are declining compared to prior surveys. Hunting for the illegal wildlife trade and bushmeat are likely the primary driver of the declines (Bruce et al. 2018). Indicators of human activity within the reserve are highest in the north-west and lowest in the southern sector towards the centre. The most frequently encountered sign of human activity were trails, machete cuts, and signs of human passage. Areas within the reserve that have few signs of human activity are uncommon (Bruce et al. 2018). Most human signs were recorded in the north-west of the reserve. The low encounter rates of wildlife in this area other than around Bouamir Research Station suggest that human activity continues to impact wildlife within the reserve. The wildlife hotspots were (1) the area around Bouamir Research Station (a hotspot for the elephant population), (2) the north-east corner of the reserve where great apes were most frequently encountered, and (3) the habitat around the Bali Bai and the east of the Southern Sector that has lower levels of human sign and where disturbance-sensitive species, such as leopard, golden cat and white-bellied duiker, most commonly occur (Bruce et al. 2018).
Table 3. Threats to apes in Dja Biosphere Reserve
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Quantified severity | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | 1.2 Commercial & industrial areas | Present, but threat severity is unknown | Ongoing (2018) | ||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Unknown | Expansion of land for agriculture (UNESCO 2021). | Ongoing (2021) | |
| 3. Energy production & mining | 3.2 Mining & quarrying | Present, but threat severity unknown | Mining activities in the periphery (UNESCO 2021). | Ongoing (2021) | |
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Unknown | ||||
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | High | Very high in the Northwest of the reserve, ca. 25% of the area | Intensity of signs of human activity in the northwest area of the reserve and low encounter rates of great ape nests and forest elephant dung in this area (apart from around Bouamir Research Station), suggests that human perturbation continues to influence the distribution of wildlife within the DFR (Bruce et al. 2018). | Ongoing (2018) |
| 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | Present, but threat severity is unknown | Affecting buffer zones. | Around the Dja Faunal Reserve other significant threats include mining, logging, agricultural clearance, rubber plantations and the associated demands for bushmeat, and the ecological impacts of existing and planned hydroelectric dams (MINFOF & IUCN 2015). | Ongoing (2018) | |
| 6. Human intrusion & disturbance | Unknown | ||||
| 7. Natural system modifications | 7.2 Dams & water management/use | Present, but threat severity is unknown | Water infrastructure and Mekin hydroelectric dam (UNESCO 2021). | Ongoing (2021) | |
| 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 |
Conservation activities
Conservation activities including the monitoring of biodiversity through wildlife surveys, improving law enforcement to combat wildlife crimes, anti-poaching patrols, and empowerment of local communities in and around the Dja Biosphere Reserve are conducted in the DBR by the Cameroon Ministry of Forest and Wildlife, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). During 2018, ZSL supported MINFOF eco-guards to carry out patrols throughout all four sectors of the Dja Biosphere Reserve using the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) approach. A total of 68 patrols were completed in all sectors of the Dja covering a distance of 7,769km and 93% of the Reserve. During these patrols, 14 arms were seized, along with 131 pieces of ammunition, and a total of 9 people were arrested on charges of poaching (ZSL 2018). Between January and December 2017, the AWF anti-poaching units conducted 559 patrols and destroyed 52 active hunting camps, seizing 82 kg of pangolin scale, as well as traditional guns, ammunition, and motorbikes. They also removed 264 traps and snares.
Table 4. Conservation activities in Dja Biosphere 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 | Ongoing (2018) | |
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.9. Regularly de-activate/remove ground snares | Ongoing (2018) | |
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.15. Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g. SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement patrols | Ongoing (2018) | |
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.17. Provide sustainable alternative livelihoods; establish fish- or domestic meat farms | Ongoing (2018) | |
| 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 | 10.2. Involve local community in primate research and conservation management | Community surveillance networks that allow forest community members to collect and report information on illegal activities such as poaching, illegal mining and logging, as well as monitor law enforcement activities (in partnership with the University College of London’s Extreme Citizen Science (ExCiteS) programme). | Ongoing |
| 11. Habitat Protection | 11.2. Legally protect primate habitat | The reserve was created in 1950 and in 1987 became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. | Ongoing (2021) |
| 12. Species Management | Not reported | ||
| 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) | Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) were established to help individuals from partner communities save and access small amounts of money for sustainable livelihood initiatives developed by the communities themselves (ZSL). | Ongoing |
| 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) | ZSL supports community members and women in particular, to derive better and more sustainable revenue from Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) such as Ndjangsang, Bush mango and Ebaye (ZSL). AWF supports communities by helping improve cocoa crop cultivation techniques. In exchange, the farmers sign a Reciprocal Environmental Agreement to refrain from participating in poaching, illegal wildlife trade, and illegal logging; with the added boost in income, they no longer rely on money from poaching and logging (Kubania 2019). | Ongoing (2019) |
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Dja Biosphere Reserve
| Challenge | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
Research activities
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Dja Biosphere Reserve
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
External links
Relevant datasets
References
Djuikouo, M.N.K., Doucet, J.‐L., Nguembou, C.K., Lewis, S.L. and Sonké, B. (2010). Diversity and aboveground biomass in three tropical forest types in the Dja Biosphere Reserve, Cameroon. African Journal of Ecology, 48: 1053-1063. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2028.2010.01212.x
MINFOF & IUCN. (2015). Caractérisation de la population de grands et moyens mammifères dans la Reserve de Faune du Dja : Potentiel et menaces. Ministry of Forests and Wildlife, IUCN, Yaoundé, Cameroon. 31 pp.
Bruce T., Ndjassi, C., Fowler, A., Ndimbe, M., Fankem,O., Tabue Mbobda, R.B, Kobla,A.S., Wabo Puemo, F.A., Amin, R., Wacher, T., Grange-Chamfray,S.,& Olson, D. (2018). Faunal Inventory of the Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon – 2018. Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF), Zoological Society of London – Cameroon Country Programme, African Wildlife Foundation, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Latour, S. (2010). Reserve de Faune du Dja: Evaluation du Statut de grands singes. Rapport de BRL Ingenierie, GFA consulting, et DFS.
UNESCO (2015). http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/SC/pdf/sc_mab_BR_Dja_EN.pdf (Accessed on 18.01.2021)
Williamson, E. & Usongo, L. (1995). Réserve de faune du Dja: recensement des populations de primates et inventaire des grands mammifères. ECOFAC, Bruxelles.
ZSL (2018). ZSL Cameroon Annual Report 2018 (https://admin.zsl.org/sites/default/files/Cameroon%20Annual%20Report%202018.pdf?_ga=2.24277757.615129097.1610992413-860504531.1610992413)
UNESCO. (2021). State of Conservation, Dja Faunal Reserve. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc/4202
Kubania, J. (2019). Sustainable cocoa turns Cameroon’s farmers into conservation champions. African Wildlife Foundation. https://www.awf.org/blog/sustainable-cocoa-turns-cameroons-farmers-conservation-champions
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