SINFOCAM concessions
Central Africa > Central African Republic > SINFOCAM concessions
Summary
- Central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) and western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are present in SINFOCAM concessions.
- It has been estimated that 535 (CI: 287-999) individuals occur in the site.
- The great ape population trend is unknown.
- The site has a total size of 2,346.46 km².
- Key threats to great apes are logging and poaching.
- Conservation activities have focused on anti-poaching patrols.
Site characteristics
The SINFOCAM concessions are logging concessions located in the southwestern corner of the Central African Republic (CAR). The concessions are found within the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Area (DSPA). The DSPA is known for its remarkable biodiversity and is the largest intact forest block remaining in the country (WWF n.d.). DSPA is part of the Sangha Tri-National World Heritage Site. SINFOCAM, a subsidiary of Vicwood Group, obtained a logging permit in 2014 (Global Witness 2015).
Table 1. Basic site information for SINFOCAM concessions
| Area | 2,346.46 km² |
| Coordinates | 2.786886 N, 16.247316 E |
| Designation | Forestry concession |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, savanna |
Ape status
Table 2. Ape population estimates in SINFOCAM concessions
| 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 | 2015-2016 | 82 (33-203) | 0.03 (0.01-0.08) | SINFOCAM concessions | Line transects (Distance) | N'Goran, Ndomba & Beukou 2016 | |||
| Gorilla gorilla gorilla | 2015-2016 | 502 (260-970) | 0.21 (0.11-0.40) | SINFOCAM concessions | Line transects (Distance) | N'Goran, Ndomba & Beukou 2016 | |||
| Gorilla gorilla gorilla & Pan troglodytes troglodytes | 2015-2016 | 535 (287-999) | 0.22 (0.12-0.41) | SINFOCAM concessions | Line transects (Distance) | N'Goran, Ndomba & Beukou 2016 |
Threats
Exploitation of the SINFOCAM logging concessions was predicted to have negative impacts on the remaining wildlife populations, and contributing to increased human pressures in the nearby protected areas (N'Goran, Ndomba & Beukou 2016).
Table 3. Threats to apes in SINFOCAM concessions
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Quantified severity | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | Unknown | ||||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | Unknown | ||||
| 3. Energy production & mining | 3.2 Mining & quarrying | Present, but threat severity unknown | Artisanal mining (WWF n.d.). | Unknown | |
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Unknown | ||||
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | High | Poaching (subsistence and commercial; WWF n.d., Global Witness 2015). | Ongoing (2015) | |
| 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | High | Industrial scale logging is a threat, as logging roads accelerate deforestation and facilitate access to poachers (Global Witness 2015). | Ongoing (2015) | ||
| 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
WWF played an important role in the gazetting of the DSPA, where the site is located. WWF works alongside the CAR government to conserve this area, which is of exceptional regional and international importance (WWF n.d.)
Table 4. Conservation activities in SINFOCAM concessions
| 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 | Anti-poaching patrols (WWF n.d.). | Unknown |
| 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 | Not reported | ||
| 11. Habitat Protection | Not reported | ||
| 12. Species Management | Not reported | ||
| 13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives | Not reported |
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for SINFOCAM concessions
| Challenge | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
Research activities
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for SINFOCAM concessions
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
External links
Relevant datasets
References
N’Goran K.P., Ndomba D.L. and Beukou G.B. (2016). Rapport de l’inventaire des grands et moyens mamifères dans le segment RCA du paysage trinational de la Sangha. Bayanga, Central African Republic: WWF. Unpublished Report.
Witness, G. (2015). Blood timber: how Europe helped fund war in the Central African Republic: a report.
WWF (n.d.).WWF in the Dzanga - Sangha Protected Area (DSPA). Online: https://www.wwf-congobasin.org/where_we_work/central_africa_republic/dzanga_sangha_protected_area/
Page completed by: A.P.E.S. Wiki team Date: 18/12/2021