Banco National Park
Summary
- Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in Banco National Park.
- It has been estimated that around 26 individuals occur in the site.
- The chimpanzee population trend is stable.
- The site has a total size of 34 km².
- Key threats to chimpanzees are pollution, hunting, and pressure from urban surroundings.
- Conservation activities have focused on conservation and environmental awareness campaigns and education.
- The site is surrounded by the capital city of Abidjan.
Site characteristics
The Banco National Park was created in October 1953. It is located in the heart of the Ivorian economic capital, Abidjan, and is bounded by the municipalities of Adjamé, Attécoubé, Abobo, and Yopougon. The surface of the park has shrunk over the years and now covers an area of 3,438 hectares. Being the unique remaining relic of the dense primary forest that once covered the area of Abidjan, Banco National Park is often described as the hydraulic reservoir and green lung of the economic capital of Côte d'Ivoire. This protected area is a center for environmental education (OIPR 2020). The park holds about 600 ha of primary forests; an arboretum of over 800 species of higher plants native to the tropics of Africa, Asia and Latin America; many fish ponds located in the heart of the park, a semi-natural swimming pool, an ecomuseum, and the presence of a family of chimpanzees (OIPR 2020). Based on a wildlife survey (Bitty et al. 2013), the site is home to a number mammal species, including primates (chimpanzees, Campbell's mona monkey, and lesser white-nosed monkey), ungulates (harnessed bushbuck, Maxwell's duiker, Royal antelope), and predators, such as the cape genet, common kusimanse, and African civet (OIPR 2020).
Table 1. Basic site information for Banco National Park
| Area | 34 km² |
| Coordinates | 5.395175 N, -4.052743 W |
| Designation | National Park |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical dry forest, subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical/tropical heavily degraded former forest, arable land, plantations, urban areas, canals and drainage channels, ditches, permanent rivers/streams/creeks (includes waterfalls), seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks, ponds [below 8 ha], aquaculture ponds, permanent freshwater marshes/pools (under 8 ha), seasonal/intermittent freshwater marshes/pools |
Ape status
A marked nest count study conducted in the Banco National Park in 2006 confirmed the presence of a small chimpanzee population. Twentysix fresh nests (including single nests and a group of up to 5 nests) were found along transects, and 5 off transects. The population was estimated to be around 20 individuals. In 2006, assistants succeeded several times to directly observe chimpanzees in groups of over ten individuals (WCF n.d.). Visitors of the park sighted ca. 20 chimpanzees in 2013 (Normand, E., personal communication). The manager of the park supports a group of up to 40 chimpanzees, and 3-4 isolated individuals are occasionally seen in the park (Bakayoko, H, pers. com). Based on these corroborating statements, the population of chimpanzees within the site is likely stable or increasing.
Table 2. Ape population estimates in Banco National Park
| 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 | 2006 | 7 (4-14) | 0.22 | Banco National Park | Line transects (Distance) | WCF 2009 | |||
| Pan troglodytes verus | 2013 | 20 | Banco National Park | Informed guess | Normand, E. personal comm., 2016 | ||||
| Pan troglodytes verus | 2021 | 40-50 | Banco National Park | Informed guess | Bakayoko, Hillihase, personal comm. 2021 |
Threats
Banco National Park is highly threatened by the neighboring populations, which exert a high pressure on the fauna and flora of the park. Snares are regularly found and poachers caught, illustrating that poaching is very much present within the park. Pollution is a real challenge for the park. The different types of pollution caused by domestic, artisanal, or industrial discharges destroy trees and pollute the land over an average distance of 200 m around the sources of pollution (Kouadio & Singh 2020). The park's isolation in the urban area of Abidjan and various types of human activities near the park are the main cause of the pollution observed. In Abobo, to the north and north-east of the park, the various economic activities linked to the sale and repair of automobiles, in particular, the “Abidjan Automobile Casse”, lead to the rejection of a large quantity of abandoned spare parts in the park forest. In addition, engine oils are discharged into polluted water drainage channels which then flow into the park (Kouadio & Singh 2020). The second source of pollution in the Banco forest include the septic waste from the neighboring communities and the Abidjan main detention center (MACA), the largest prison in Côte d'Ivoire, located at the southwestern edge of the park. Waste from septic tanks is also discharged into the park. The park is also bordered by several Small and Medium Industrial Enterprises, and also by small artisanal production units of traditional soaps made by chemical fermentation. These units are located to the north-east in the commune of Adjamé and to the south-west in Yopougon. The liquid waste produced by these units is directly discharged into the park (Kouadio & Singh 2020).
Table 3. Threats to apes in Banco National Park
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Quantified severity | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | 1.1 Housing & urban areas | Medium | Ongoing (2021) | ||
| 1.2 Commercial & industrial areas | Present, but threat severity unknown | Ongoing (2021) | |||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Present, but threat severity unknown | Ongoing (2021) | ||
| 3. Energy production & mining | Unknown | ||||
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Unknown | ||||
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | High | Ongoing (2021) | ||
| 5.2 Gathering terrestrial plants | High | Ongoing (2021) | |||
| 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | High | Ongoing (2021) | |||
| 6. Human intrusion & disturbance | 6.1 Recreational activities | Low | Ongoing (2021) | ||
| 7. Natural system modifications | Unknown | ||||
| 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases | 8.1 Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Present, but threat severity unknown | Ongoing (2021) | ||
| 9. Pollution | 9.1 Domestic & urban waste water | High | Ongoing (2021) | ||
| 9.2 Industrial & military effluents | Present, but threat severity unknown | Ongoing (2021) | |||
| 9.4 Garbage & solid waste | Medium | Ongoing (2021) | |||
| 9.6 Excess energy (e.g. light/noise pollution) | High | Ongoing (2021) | |||
| 10. Geological Events | Absent | ||||
| 11. Climate change & severe weather | Unknown | ||||
| 12. Other options | Absent |
Conservation activities
The Banco NP has become a hotspot for education and awareness campaigns for environment conservation in Abidjan. Many NGO regularly organize popular events within the park involving kids, neighboring communities, students, etc.
Table 4. Conservation activities in Banco National Park
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | |||
| 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 (2021) | |
| 5.9. Regularly de-activate/remove ground snares | Ongoing (2021) | ||
| 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 | Ongoing (2021) | |
| 10.2. Involve local community in primate research and conservation management | Ongoing (2021) | ||
| 10.5. Implement multimedia campaigns using theatre, film, print media, and discussions | Ongoing (2021) | ||
| 11. Habitat Protection | Not reported | ||
| 12. Species Management | Not reported | ||
| 13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives | Not reported |
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Banco National Park
| Challenge | Source |
|---|---|
| Lack of logistical means | OIPR n.d. |
| Lack of national protection | OIPR n.d. |
| Strong urban pressure | OIPR n.d. |
Research activities
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Banco National Park
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
External links
Relevant datasets
References
Akaffou, S.V.E, Abrou, N.E.J&M.S. Tiébré (2020). Current and future distribution of Chromolaena odorata(L.) R.M. King & H. Roxb (Compositae) and Hopea odorata Roxb (Dipterocarpaceae) in the Banco national park. IOSR Journal Of Pharmacy And Biological Sciences (IOSR-JPBS) e-ISSN:2278-3008, p-ISSN:2319-7676. Volume 15, Issue 2 Ser. III (Mar –Apr 2020), PP 06-14
Bitty, EA, Kadjo B., Gonedele Bi, S. Okon, M.O.and Kouassi, K.P. et al. (2013) Inventaire de la faune mammalogique d’une forêt urbaine, le Parc National du Banco, Côte d’Ivoire. Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 7(4): 1678-1687
Kouadio, K. I., & Singh, R. Urban Forest BNP in Abidjan.International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology (IJRASET). https://www.ijraset.com/fileserve.php?FID=32326
OIPR (2021). https://www.oipr.ci/index.php/parcs-reserves/parcs-nationaux/parc-national-du-banco (Accessed, 19.01.2021)
Page completed by: Tene Sop Date: 18/10/2021