Lebialem Complex
Summary
- Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes ellioti) & Cross river gorillas (Gorilla gorilla diehli) are present in Lebialem Complex.
- The population sizes are unknown.
- The population trends are unknown.
- The size of the site is unknown.
- Key threats to great apes are expansion of slash-and-burn agriculture and hunting.
- Conservation activities have focused on environmental education and efforts to increase protected areas in the landscape.
Site characteristics
The Lebialem Complex (also known as the Lebialem Highlands) is situated in southwestern Cameroon, between Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary to the south and the Mone-Oko Complex to the north. It consists of a series of forests located directly to the west of some of the highest human population densities in the region (Morgan et al. 2011). The site was identified as a "chimpanzee conservation planning unit" (CCPU) in the IUCN Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of the Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee. The site was identified as an area with relatively high chimpanzee density and high potential chimpanzee habitat (Morgan et al. 2011). Lebialem contains some of Africa’s most threatened primate species, including the Cross River gorilla, Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee, drill and Preuss’s guenon (Wright & Priston 2010).
Table 1. Basic site information for Lebialem Complex
| Area | Unknown |
| Coordinates | 5.624129, 9.659034 |
| Designation | Unclassified |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist montane forest |
Ape status
In March 2018, 20 chimpanzees were recorded in a single group in the area (survey method unknown; ERuDeF).
Table 2. Ape population estimates in Lebialem Complex
| 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 ellioti | |||||||||
| Gorilla gorilla diehli |
Threats
Main threats to wildlife in the area include forest conversion to farmland, corridor fragmentation and poaching (ERuDeF).
Table 3. Threats to apes in Lebialem Complex
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Quantified severity | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | Unknown | ||||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | High | Forest clearance for agriculture (Morgan et al. 2011). Widespread slash-and-burn agriculture within and on the periphery of protected areas (Nkemngu 2017). | Ongoing (2017) | |
| 2.3 Livestock farming & ranching | Present, but threat severity unknown | Overgrazing has exacerbated habitat loss (Nkemngu 2017). | Ongoing (2017) | ||
| 3. Energy production & mining | 3.2 Mining & quarrying | Present, but threat severity unknown | Mining (Nkemngu 2017). | Ongoing (2017) | |
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Unknown | ||||
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | High | Hunting, mainly for income generation (Wright & Priston 2010, Nkemngu 2017). | Ongoing (2017) | |
| 5.2 Gathering terrestrial plants | Present, but threat severity unknown | Unsustainable exploitation of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) (Nkemngu 2017). | Ongoing (2017) | ||
| 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | High | Hunting, mainly for income generation (Wright & Priston 2010, Nkemngu 2017). | Ongoing (2017) | ||
| 6. Human intrusion & 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 Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF) is a central NGO in the implementation of conservation efforts in the Lebialem highlands since 2004 (ERuDeF, Nkemngu 2017). In 2010, with funding from Taiwan, the ARCUS Foundation and Flora and Fauna International, a process was launched to assist the Government of Cameroon to create the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary (Nkemngu 2017).
Table 4. Conservation activities in Lebialem Complex
| 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 | Not reported | ||
| 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 | ERuDeF have been conducting environmental education in the areas with support from Tusk trust, Taiwan government, Man and Nature and other partners. ERuDeF has also donated books to schools and supports school fees for orphans and children around the area to be protected. | Unknown |
| 10.4. Regularly play TV & radio announcements to raise primate conservation awareness | Community radio programs supported by ERuDeF. | Unknown | |
| 10.5. Implement multimedia campaigns using theatre, film, print media, discussions | ERuDeF with support from partners has supported public information system through the green vision news paper, online publication and flyers. | Unknown | |
| 11. Habitat Protection | 11.2. Legally protect primate habitat | Ongoing projects include the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, the Mount Bamboutos Integral Ecological Reserve, and the Tofala-Mone Forest Corridor. ERuDeF is also assisting the government in protecting apes in the Mak/Betchou Forest, Nkingkwa Hills and Tofala-Mone Forest Corridor (Nkemngu 2017). | Ongoing (2017) |
| 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) | ERuDeF constructed permanent toilets for two schools around the proposed Mak-Betchou wildlife sanctuary. | Unknown |
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Lebialem Complex
| Challenge | Source |
|---|---|
| Lack of law enforcement | Nkemngu 2017 |
| Lack of government support | ERuDeF |
| Lack of capacity/training | ERuDeF |
Research activities
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Lebialem Complex
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
External links
References
Morgan, B. J., Adeleke, A., Bassey, T., Bergl, R., Dunn, A., Fotso, R., ... & Williamson, E. A. (2011). Regional action plan for the conservation of the Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti). IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group and Zoological Society of San Diego.
Nkemngu, A. (2017, January 31). NGO takes action to save great apes in Cameroon’s Lebialem Highlands. Retrieved from Mongabay. Online: https://news.mongabay.com/2017/01/ngo-takes-action-to-save-great-apes-in-cameroons-lebialem-highlands/
Wright, J. H., & Priston, N. E. (2010). Hunting and trapping in Lebialem Division, Cameroon: bushmeat harvesting practices and human reliance. Endangered species research, 11(1), 1-12.
Page completed by: A.P.E.S. Wiki team Date: 04/07/2022