Dimonika Biosphere Reserve (6087)
Congo, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, B1
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Réserve de Biosphère de Dimonika
Central coordinates: Latitude: -4.1787, Longitude: 12.3372
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 75 to 820
Area of KBA (km2): 1333.07073
Protected area coverage (%): 0.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Designated in 1988 under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program, Dimonika Biosphere Reserve KBA is located in the central Mayombe Mountain chain in southwestern Republic of Congo. The reserve has a spectacular mountainous terrain dominated by lowland guineo-congolese rainforest and savannas. Despite its status, very little information is available about the biodiversity and threats in the region. The KBA covers 1,333 km2; altitudes range from 75 to 820m above sea level.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This KBA is a Congolese reserve that is home to two range-restricted or endangered fish: Amphilius mamonekenensis (A1b-B1) and Chrysichthys dageti (A1b). It also harbors endangered and range restricted plant : Habenaria phantasma (A1a-B1) which triggers this site.
Additional biodiversity: Picathartes oreas occurs at the site, but does not trigger it. The large mammals at the site remain, despite some hunting (six species of duiker, at least five monkey species), and a small remaining elephant population.
Manageability of the site: Currently there is no active management (conservation) in this KBA, the MEF (Ministry of Forest Economy) is the land owner. As it is a protected area it could be managed as a single unit.
Delineation rationale: The KBA delineation follows the Dimonika Biosphere Reserve limits. These limits are approved by the MEF (Ministry of Forest Economy, Government of Congo)- the limits were revised by a partnership between MEF and WRI (World Resources Institute) in the mid- 2010s to improve their alignment with rivers and other geographical features, and to refine the edges (which were previously somewhat "blocky"). The northen limit follows the Louboumo river, the eastern limit follows the national N1 road between the junction between it and the Louboumo River southwest to the village of Doumanga, and then runs directly north to the Niari riveer and follows it upstram to the confluence with the Louboumo again. The Decree that created this site is "Décret n° 88-181 du 1 mars1988 portant création de la réserve de la Biosphère de Dimonika dans le Mayombe"
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: This site is mostly (90%) covered by tropical lowland forest, (Ecoregion: Northwest Congolian Lowland Forests; IUCN habitat classification 1.6) with some (10%) wooded savanna patches (Ecoregion: Western Congolian forest-savanna; IUCN habitat classification 3.6. Shrubland – Subtropical/tropical moist).
The northern limit of the site is a permanent river (the Loubomo) which runs into a larger river (the Niari) which forms part of the northwestern limit (IUCN habitat classification 5.1. Wetlands (inland) – Permanent rivers/streams/creeks (includes waterfalls). Throughout the site are seasonal streams. (5.2. Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks).
Land use:
This KBA is a protected area managed by the government through the Ministry of Forest Economy.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 90 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland |
| Savanna | 10 | Savanna - Moist |
| Shrubland | 85 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: This KBA is subject to hunting for meat, especially near the national road (the N6) running along its western side. There are regular bushfires in the small savanna sectors. Some artisanal gold mining occurred at least up to 2012 (Pintea et al 2012). Trends are unknown, as there is no monitoring at the site; the last full survey was in 2009.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Pintea, L., Latour, S., Hanni, D.C., Tchindongo, E., Nsafou, A., Atencia, R., Pharoah, L. & Cox, D. (2012) Biological surveys and geeospatial analysis to support great ape conservation in Dimonika biosphere and Tchimpounga Natural Reserves, Republic of Congo (presentation). International Primatological Society (30 slides). Cancun, Mexico.
Contributors: The experts who examined the data for this site are the following:
Freshwater fish: Victor Mamonekene (Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Agronomie et de Foresterie, Brazzaville, Congo);
Herps and killifish: Laurent Chirio (Brazzaville French School);
Larger Mammals: Fiona Maisels WCS);
Small mammals: Terrence Demos (Chicago Field Museum of Natural History); Julian Kerbis (Chicago Field Museum of Natural History/ Roosevelt University); Rainer Hutterer (Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Bonn Koenig Museum);
Birds: Jerome Mokoko; Hugo Rainey (WCS and The Biodiversity Consultancy);
Plants: Sydney Ndolo Ebika (Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo); Nicolas Texier (Missouri Botanical Gardens and ULB Brussels)