Foya Proposed Protected Area
Summary
- Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in Foya.
- The population size is unknown.
- The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
- This site has a total size of 1646 km².
- Key threats to chimpanzees are hunting, large-scale mining and commercial logging.
- The GolaMA Project supports communities to manage forest resources sustainably.
- Foya is the largest of the proposed protected areas (Johnson 2015) and forms part of an Important Bird Area (IBA).
Site characteristics
Foya Proposed Protected Area spans the northwestern highlands, including the southwest extension of the Wonegizi Mountains, the headwaters of the Mano River, and approximately 40 kilometers of Lofa River frontage. Foya is the largest of the proposed protected areas. It consists of moist evergreen forest and moist semi-deciduous forests. The site includes about 44,000 ha of community forest. Efforts to secure a status of national park are ongoing (NICFI 2016). Foya is an important area for the vulnerable zebra duiker Cephalophus zebra (Johnson 2015). Apart from chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus), survey teams of the nationwide chimpanzee and large mammal survey (Tweh et al. 2014) found numerous signs of black duiker (Cephalophus niger), Maxwell duiker (Philantomba maxwellii), Ogilby’s duiker (Cephalophus ogilbyi), bay duiker (Cephalophus dorsalis), bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys), Campbell’s monkey (Cercopithecus campbelli), spot-nosed monkey Cercopithecus petaurista), lowland bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus), red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus), and the vulnerable African elephant (Loxodonta africana) in the forests around Foya Proposed Protected Area. A Gola Malimbe (Malimbus ballmani) identification and nest survey training was conducted with the Site Support Group (linked to the Important Bird Area) in 2017.
Table 1. Basic site information for Foya Proposed Protected Area
| Area | 1646 km² |
| Coordinates | 7.79, -10.34 |
| Designation | Proposed Protected Area |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest |
Ape status
Although Tweh and colleagues (2014) did not survey Foya Proposed Protected Area directly, they found many nests and other signs of chimpanzee presence on recces and line transects in the forests all around Foya. The nationwide chimpanzee abundance model published by Junker et al. (2015) suggests that chimpanzees are likely to occur in this area. Further analysis of the nationwide dataset revealed that Foya Proposed Protected Area was located in the tenth highest ranked conservation priority area in terms of chimpanzee density, and mammal and tree diversity (Junker et al. 2015). Interview surveys showed that several villages around Foya Proposed Protected Area practice taboos against the killing and eating of chimpanzees (Junker unpubl. data). In 2018, the Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia has conducted a baseline survey of Foya Proposed Protected Area. This survey included recce walks at several sites, camera traps and socio-economic assessments of villages. Some chimpanzee nests were found on recce surveys, and a Coula edulis nut-cracking site was recorded in the North-west sector. Camera traps also confirmed presence of zebra duikers (Cephalophus zebra). In 2019, the ELRECO Nationwide Forest Elephant Status Survey confirmed the presence of chimpanzees in all four survey sites (mostly Northwestern and Western parts) in Foya PPA.
Table 2. Great ape population estimates in Foya Proposed Protected 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 | 2010-2012 | Likely to be present | Foya Proposed Protected Area | Model estimate | Junker et al. 2015 | The site itself was not surveyed, estimate based on a nationwide chimpanzee abundance model | |||
| Pan troglodytes verus | 2018 | Present | Foya Proposed Protected Area | Index survey | Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia | Reconnaissance walk | |||
| Pan troglodytes verus | 2019 | Present | Foya Proposed Protected Area | Index survey | ELRECO Nationwide Forest Elephant Status Survey |
Threats
During the nationwide chimpanzee and large mammal survey, teams encountered less hunting signs in the forests around Foya Proposed Protected Area than elsewhere in the country (Junker unpubl. data). Recce surveys from 2018 and a hunting study overlapping with North-west sector show that hunting occurs across the whole area, but may be less intense than other sites in Liberia due to the difficulty of access. Some communities, particularly in the South and West are reportedly strict about allowing hunters from outside to access forest without communities permission which could act to reduce the pressure from immigrant hunters. A considerable part of the proposed protected area is covered by Mineral Exploration Licenses (MEL) for gold and other Minerals owned by Aforo Resources Liberia Ltd. and GEOMBLY (Liberia) Ltd. (Johnson 2015). MEL’s entail that after a proposed exploration program has been handed to the Minister of Land, Mines, and Energy, the company commences exploration (Wilson et al. 2017). Foya Proposed Protected Area overlapped with illegally issued Private-Use Permits (PUP) for commercial logging. Private Use Permits were a type of logging licence designed to allow private land owners to cut trees on their property, but which were reportedly subject to misuse by commercial logging companies. After investigations by Global Witness (Global Witness 2013) much public outcry and extensive media coverage, PUPs have now largely been rescinded (Johnson 2015). In addition, increased deforestation and forest fragmentation due to slash and burn agriculture threaten the area (NICFI 2016).
Table 3. Threats to great apes in Foya Proposed Protected Area
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Quantified severity | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | 1.1 Housing & urban areas | Medium | Many settlements within the boundary of the Proposed Protected Area, that have been established for many years | Ongoing | |
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Present | Deforestation due to shifting cultivation (NICFI 2016), much of the area around settlement has been cleared for agriculture | Ongoing (2016) | |
| 3. Energy production & mining | 3.2 Mining & Quarrying | Medium | Mining for gold and other minerals (Johnson 2015) | Ongoing (2015) | |
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Unknown | ||||
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.3 Logging and Wood Harvesting | Low | Area overlapped with Private-Use Permits, which have been withdrawn (Johnson 2015, Junker et al. 2015) | 2013-2015 | |
| 6. Human intrusions & disturbance | Unknown | ||||
| 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 |
Conservation activities
The GolaMA Project is a partnership between forest communities, the Government of Liberia and the international conservation community to conserve and manage the Gola Forest that lies outside of protected areas. The forest where the GolaMA Project is working covers about 400 km2 of the Gola Forest and forms a corridor linking Gola National Park and the Foya Proposed Protected Area, as well the Gola Rainforest National Park in Sierra Leone. The project is implemented by The Society for Conservation of Nature in Liberia (SCNL) in collaboration with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) (EEAS 2018). The focus of the project is to support two clans to establish community-managed forests in partnership with the Government of Liberia, which are to be managed so that forest resources are conserved. The project activities span livelihood support work such as training in bee-keeping, training for improving the yields of cocoa production, and using swamp-cultivation methods. It has also established a small-loans schemes. Participation in livelihood support activities are linked to conservation-friendly behaviour, with a focus on reducing hunting of vulnerable wildlife. Ongoing work on the community forests' management plans will introduce community regulations on hunting and land use to preserve areas for conservation.
Table 4. Conservation activities in Foya Proposed Protected Area
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | |||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.11. Farm more intensively and effectively in selected areas and spare more natural land | GolaMA project: farmer field school training for cocoa farmers, and swamp cultivation demonstration sites have been taking place from 2017-2019 | Since 2017 |
| 3. Energy production & mining | |||
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | |||
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.17. Provide sustainable alternative livelihoods; establish fish- or domestic meat farms | GolaMA project: fish ponds established, bee-keeping training | Since 2014 |
| 6. Human intrusions & disturbance | |||
| 7. Natural system modifications | |||
| 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases | |||
| 9. Pollution | |||
| 10. Education & Awareness | 10.1. Educate local communities about primates and sustainable use | GolaMA project: adult literacy classes, awareness raising efforts included several conservation-themed workshops | Since 2016 |
| 11. Habitat Protection | |||
| 12. Species Management | |||
| 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) | GolaMA project: groups / individuals must formally agree to refrain from commercial hunting / trading of bushmeat to qualify for small-loans scheme (participants sign MOUs) | Since 2016 |
| 13.2. Provide non-monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. better education, infrastructure development) | GolaMA project: groups / individuals must formally agree to refrain from commercial hunting / trading of bushmeat to qualify as participants in training programmes (articipants sign MOUs) | Since 2016 |
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Foya Proposed Protected Area
| Challenge | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
Research activities
According to local people there are albino chimps in Foya PPA; and chimps allegedly do not build nests but sleep in tree forks (Vogt pers. obs.).
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Great ape behaviors reported for Foya Proposed Protected Area
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Nut cracking | Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia |
References
European External Action Service (EEAS) 2018. Securing Liberian Forest Connectivity through Community Forest Management and Innovative Financing. (15 October 2019; ec.europa.eu).
Forestry Development Authority (FDA) 2017. Request for Expressions of Interest for Provision of Consultancy Services. Liberia Forest Sector Project, Project Id: P154114, Grant Id: Tfa2427. (15 October 2019; www.emansion.gov.lr (PDF)).
Global Witness. (2013). Avoiding the Riptide: Liberia must Enforce its Forest Laws to Prevent a New Wave of Illegal and Destructive Logging Contracts. Global Witness.
Johnson S. 2015. Aggregated Biodiversity Offsets: A Roadmap for Liberia’s Mining Sector. Unpublished report by the World Bank Group (WBG) and Program On Forests (PROFOR).
Junker J, Boesch C, Freeman T, Mundry R, Stephens C, Kühl HS. 2015. Integrating wildlife conservation with conflicting economic land-use goals in a West African biodiversity hotspot. Basic and Applied Ecology: doi:10.1016/j.baae.2015.07.002.
Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI). 2016. Forest and Mosaic Landscape Restoration in Lofa County, Liberia. (15 October 2019; www.regjeringen.no (PDF)).
Tweh C, Lormie M, Kouakou CY, Hillers A, Kühl HS, Junker J, et al. 2014. Conservation status of chimpanzees Pan troglodytes verus and other large mammals in Liberia: a nationwide survey. Oryx: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0030605313001191.
Wilson STK, Wang H, Kabenge M, Qi X. 2017. The mining sector of Liberia: current practices and environmental challenges. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 24: 18711–18720.
Page completed by:Martina Vogt & Sorrel Jones Date: 09/12/2019