Usala Forest
Central Africa > Democratic Republic of the Congo > Usala Forest
Summary
- Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) & Grauer's gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) are present in Usala Forest.
- In 2007, the gorilla population was estimated to range between 240 to 410 individuals. The chimpanzee population is unknown.
- The gorilla population trend is stable; the chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
- The site has a total size of 3,500 km².
- Important threats to great apes include illegal mining and the presence of armed groups.
- Conservation activities are not documented.
Site characteristics
Usala forest lies to the east of Maiko National Park, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is among the most remote, intact, and inaccessible blocks of tropical rainforest remaining in Africa (Kümpel et al. 2015). The site is also important for the conservation of okapis (Kümpel et al. 2015).
Table 1. Basic site information for Usala Forest
| Area | 3,500 km² |
| Coordinates | |
| Designation | Unclassified |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest |
Ape status
Survey results suggest that between 2007 and 2014, the gorilla population in Usala remained relatively stable (Nixon et al. 2015).
Table 2. Ape population estimates in Usala Forest
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorilla beringei graueri | 2007 | 240-410 | Present | 850 km² | Index survey (reconnaissance walk) | Nixon et al. 2015 | Assessment led by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. 34 nest sites and large gorilla groups were encountered. Abundance estimate is tentative. Survey effort: 240 km. | ||
| Gorilla beringei graueri | 2014 | Present | Approximately 340 km² | Index survey (reconnaissance walk) | Nixon et al. 2015 | Survey effort: 200 km. 28 nest sites were encountered. |
Threats
Table 3. Threats to apes in Usala Forest
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Quantified severity | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | Absent | ||||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | Unknown | ||||
| 3. Energy production & mining | 3.2 Mining & quarrying | High | Presence of armed groups involved in illegal mining activities (Kümpel et al. 2015). | Ongoing (2015) | |
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Unknown | ||||
| 5. Biological resource use | Unknown | ||||
| 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
Table 4. Conservation activities in Usala Forest
| 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 | Not reported | ||
| 11. Habitat Protection | Not reported | ||
| 12. Species Management | Not reported | ||
| 13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives | Not reported |
Challenges
Widespread presence of armed groups and illegal mining operations present serious challenges for the implementation of conservation activities (Kümpel et al. 2015).
Table 5. Challenges reported for Usala Forest
| Challenge | Source |
|---|---|
| Civil unrest | Kümpel et al. 2015 |
Research activities
Nixon, S.C., Mufabule, K., Eliba, A. & Patule, I.M. 2007. A prospection survey of the Usala Forest and proposed Usala Community Reserve, Democratic Republic of Congo. Unpublished report submitted to DFGI, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Goma, DRC. Available at http://fondationkumu.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/usalaprospection-2007.pdf
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Usala Forest
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Not reported |
External links
Relevant datasets
References
Nixon, S., Kaghoma, C. & Vyalengerera, M. (2015). The status of Grauer’s gorilla in the Usala Forest. Gorilla Journal (Journal of Berggorilla and Regenwald Direkthilfe) 50.
Kümpel, N. F., Quinn, A., Queslin, E., Grange, S., Mallon, D. & Mapilanga, J-J. (2015). Okapi (Okapia johnstoni): Conservation Strategy and Status Review. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN and Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN). pp. 58
Page completed by: A.P.E.S. Wiki team Date: 29/12/2020