Ngombé-Epoma (100274)
Congo, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, A1d, B1, B4
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Ngombé-Epoma
Central coordinates: Latitude: 0.9600, Longitude: 15.5800
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 320 to 620
Area of KBA (km2): 11513.12798
Protected area coverage (%): 24.67
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: Located in the the North of the Republic of Congo (RoC), the Ngombe-Epoma KBA covers the most part of the Ngombe Forest Management Unit (except the part in the north of the main city of Northern Congo – Ouesso) and the adjacent agri-concession of Epoma. It was primarily part of the older "Ntokou Reserve" KBA that has been divided into two units: one mainly under management - the Ngombe-Epoma KBA - and the other under protection - the Ntokou Pikounda and Pikounda North KBA. This part of the site though is one of the main corridors of elephant between two other important KBAs (and National Parks): Odzala-Kokoua and Ntokou-Pikounda. Mainly covered by dense forest and marantaceae forest, this KBA covers an area of 11 506 km2 and altitude ranges from 320 to 620m above sea level.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The Ngombe Epoma KBA is the outcome of the division of the former "Ntokou Pikouda reserve" KBA encompassing most of the Forest Concession of Ngombe and the Agricultural permit of Epoma. With the Ngombe Forest Management Unit being one of the most important Western Gorilla (CR, A1a,A1c,B1) sites in the world, this site is obviously a KBA for this species alone, as it contains around 20% of the global population. Due to its large size, many other species trigger this site as a KBA : Chimpanzee (EN, A1a, A1c), Grey-cheeked Managbey (VU, A1d), Bouvier's Red colobus (EN, A1a,A1c,B1; endemic to Congo), African Golden Cat (VU), African Forest Elephant (CR), Black-bellied Pangolin (VU), White-bellied Pangolin (EN), Giant Ground Pangolin (EN, A1c) and African Grey Parrot (EN, A1c). Also this KBA is one of only a few sites where the endemic ebony Diospyros whitei (B1) occurs. The timber species Pericopsis elata (EN, A1a, A1c) has also triggered the site.
The site also triggers Criterion B4 for the ecosystem "Northwestern Lowland Marantaceae Under Northern Equatorial Climate" (53.8% of this ecosystem falls within this KBA)
Additional biodiversity: This site holds almost 20% of all wild Western Gorillas. Although the site is selectively logged, the fauna is highly intact with the "full set" of primates, ungulates, and other large taxa typical of the area present at what is certainly functional densities.
Manageability of the site: Most of the KBA is a Forest Management Unit, currently managed (FSC certified logging operations). If timber companies carry out effective antipoaching, large mammal populations can be maintained (Zwerts 2023), which is the case within this concession. A small area to the south west is an unattributed forest known as Epoma; this does not have any management at present but it is coherent with certified forest management.
Supersedes another site: This is the northern part of the existing KBA which is called "Ntokou Pikounda Reserve" (SitRecID number 24251).
Other site values: The Mikayas and Mbendzélés have customary resource rights in this site.
Delineation rationale: This KBA is the result of the division of the former "Ntokou Pikounda Reserve" KBA and is its Northern part. In fact, that KBA was actually three separate logging concessions, with the future idea to create a Reserve in the southern part of it. The former KBA has been split into two- this area is the Ngombe logging concession, plus a small area to the south which was originally allocated to an oil palm concession (Epoma is the closest village), but only a small part of which was used and then the entire area abandoned. The rest of the former KBA is called the "Ntokou Pikounda National Park and Pikounda North concession". The physical limits of this KBA are, to the East, the Sangha River; to the west, the limit of the Odzala-Kokoua National Park (which is also a KBA; ID number 6085). The southwestern limit is the Mambili River, and the south-centre and south eastern limits are the Kandeko and Ebangui rivers, respectively.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: This KBA is entirely covered by lowland tropical forest (Ecoregion: Northwest Congolian lowland forests). The principal types of forest is mixed terra firma forest (IUCN habitat type 1.6. Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland: about 60%), with patches of swamp forest (IUCN habitat type 1.8. Forest – Subtropical/tropical swamp: about 25%) in the lower-lying areas close to the streams. The permanent and seasonal watercourses are classed as IUCN habitat types 5.1. Wetlands (inland) – Permanent rivers/streams/creeks (includes waterfalls) and 5.2. Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks.
To date 276 woody species have been recorded (IFO /FRM 2015), although there are likely more to identify, as there are 600 tree species from Northern Congo.
Land use: The Ngombe concession is managed as an FSC-certified timber concession. There is no active management in the Epoma sector.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: This area is mostly an active logging concession; much of the area is subject to selective logging. However, the number of trees/ hectare extracted is low, and the concessionaire is FSC-certified (see https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiN2U3NGMyNWEtZTAxNS00MzVhLWExNmMtOThhZjdiYjQ4MWNkIiwidCI6IjEyNGU2OWRiLWVmNjUtNDk2Yi05NmE5LTVkNTZiZWMxZDI5MSIsImMiOjl9). Among other requirements, certification is given only if a concession ensures effective wildlife protection.
There is some hunting for bushmeat. A tarred road that runs through the KBA which allows easy access from the forest: north to the regional capital of Ouesso; south to the country's capital (Brazzaville). However, the protection staff of the site and the neighbouring staff of the Odzala-Kokoua National Park actively patrol the forest and also check vehicles along the road.
The third threat is the (past) presence of Zaire Ebolavirus. A regional epidemic killed thousands of great apes in NE Gabon and W Congo (Walsh et al 2003; Bermejo et al. 2006). In 2006-2007 a localised cluster of great ape carcasses was found within this KBA (Cameron et al. 2016). The cause was not ascertained but Ebola was suspected. No recent evidence of Ebola has been recorded within this KBA.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Intentional use: large scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Viral/prion-induced diseases | Named species | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Viral/prion-induced diseases | Named species | In the past but now suspended and likely to return |
Additional information
References: Bermejo, M., Rodriguez-Teijeiro, J.D., Illera, G., Barroso, A., Vila, C. & Walsh, P.D. (2006) Ebola outbreak killed 5000 gorillas. Science, 314, 1564.
Cameron, K.N., Reed, P., Morgan, D.B., Ondzié, A.I., Sanz, C.M., Kühl, H.S., Olson, S.H., Leroy, E., Karesh, W.B. & Mundry, R. (2016) Spatial and temporal dynamics of a mortality event among Central African great apes. PLoS ONE, 11, e0154505.
IFO/ FRM (2007) Plan d’Aménagement UFA Ngombé, Période 2007 – 2036. Résumé Public. 28pp, Brazzaville, Congo.
Walsh, P.D., Abernethy, K.A., Bermejo, M., Beyersk, R., De Wachter, P., Akou, M.E., Huljbregis, B., Mambounga, D.I., Toham, A.K., Kilbourn, A.M., Lahm, S.A., Latour, S., Maisels, F., Mbina, C., Mihindou, Y., Obiang, S.N., Effa, E.N., Starkey, M.P., Telfer, P., Thibault, M., Tutin, C.E.G., White, L.J.T. & Wilkie, D.S. (2003) Catastrophic ape decline in western equatorial Africa. Nature, 422, 611-614.
Zwerts, J.A. (2023) Conservation and monitoring of wildlife in logged tropical forests: A study in Western Equatorial Africa. PhD, Utrecht University.
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); Gael Bouka (Marien Ngouabi University)