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Ziama Biosphere Reserve (also called Massif du Ziama, Ziama Classified Forest) is located in southern Guinea and is contiguous with Wonegizi Nature Reserve in Liberia ([https://www.protectedplanet.net/massif-du-ziama-classified-forest  UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2018]). It is designated a Classified Forest (IUCN category not reported, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2018) and is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1980 ([http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?mode=all&code=GUI+02  UNESCO MAB 2007]). The forest is located in Guinée forestière, one of four Guinean natural regions, and is part of the region N'Zérékoré. Ziama massif is part of the Guinea Highlands and the altitude of the area ranges from 500 to 1,387 m (UNESCO MAB 2007). Due to its diverse topographic features, including mountains, valleys and plateaus, Ziama forest features different habitat types:  primary mountain forests, secondary mountain forests, and secondary lowland forest, swamps and savannas (UNESCO MAB 2007). The terrain is very rugged and annual rainfall ranges from 1,700 to 2,000 mm ([http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/6375  BirdLife International 2018]).  

Ziama Biosphere Reserve (also called Massif du Ziama, Ziama Classified Forest) is located in southern Guinea and is contiguous with Wonegizi Nature Reserve in Liberia ([https://www.protectedplanet.net/massif-du-ziama-classified-forest  UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2018]). It is designated a Classified Forest (IUCN category not reported, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2018) and is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1980 ([http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?mode=all&code=GUI+02  UNESCO MAB 2007]). The forest is located in Guinée forestière, one of four Guinean natural regions, and is part of the region N'Zérékoré. Ziama massif is part of the Guinea Highlands and the altitude of the area ranges from 500 to 1,387 m (UNESCO MAB 2007). Due to its diverse topographic features, including mountains, valleys and plateaus, Ziama forest features different habitat types:  primary mountain forests, secondary mountain forests, and secondary lowland forest, swamps and savannas (UNESCO MAB 2007). The terrain is very rugged and annual rainfall ranges from 1,700 to 2,000 mm ([http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/6375  BirdLife International 2018]).  

In a conservation priority setting workshop in 2001, Ziama forest was identified as one of the most important areas for biodiversity conservation between Guinea and Togo (Bakarr et al. 2001). One of its most notable features is that its forest elephant (''Loxodonta africana'') population is the last population in Guinea ([forestelephants.org/phase-two-ziama/  AFEF 2017]). With its 287 bird species, Ziama is also an Important Bird Area (BirdLife International 2018). Furthermore, it harbors 31 bat species, 54 reptile species, 30 amphibian species as well as more than 1,300 plant species ([http://www.wildchimps.org  WCF 2012]). Together with Diéké Classified Forest, Ziama Biosphere Reserve is one of the last remaining large forest blocks in southern Guinea.

In a conservation priority setting workshop in 2001, Ziama forest was identified as one of the most important areas for biodiversity conservation between Guinea and Togo (Bakarr et al. 2001). One of its most notable features is that its forest elephant (''Loxodonta africana'') population is the last population in Guinea ([forestelephants.org/phase-two-ziama/  AFEF 2017]). With its 287 bird species, Ziama is also an Important Bird Area (BirdLife International 2018). Furthermore, it harbors 31 bat species, 54 reptile species, 30 amphibian species as well as more than 1,300 plant species ([http://www.wildchimps.org  WCF 2012]). Together with Diéké Classified Forest, Ziama Biosphere Reserve is one of the last remaining large forest blocks in southern Guinea.

Ziama forest has a total size of 1,161.70 km² and is divided into three management areas: a core area of 425.4 km2, a buffer zone of 272.3 km2, and a transition area of 463.9 km2 (Brugiere & Kormos 2009). It is about 40 km from the town of Macenta (BirdLife International 2018), and 100 km from the city of N’Zérékoré (UNESCO MAB 2007). According to a survey from 1980, around 29,000 people live within the biosphere reserve (UNESCO MAB 2007). There is also a forestry concession of 300 km2 in the transition zone with a forestry station and chipboard production (UNESCO MAB 2007), as well as a palm grove (WCF 2012).  

Ziama forest has a total size of 1,161.70 km² and is divided into three management areas: a core area of 425.4 km², a buffer zone of 272.3 km², and a transition area of 463.9 km² (Brugiere & Kormos 2009). It is about 40 km from the town of Macenta (BirdLife International 2018), and 100 km from the city of N’Zérékoré (UNESCO MAB 2007). According to a survey from 1980, around 29,000 people live within the biosphere reserve (UNESCO MAB 2007). There is also a forestry concession of 300 km² in the transition zone with a forestry station and chipboard production (UNESCO MAB 2007), as well as a palm grove (WCF 2012).