Kabo, Loundougou-Toukoulaka, and Pokola (100395)
Congo, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: CIB concessions East of the Sangha
Central coordinates: Latitude: 1.8644, Longitude: 16.6866
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 310 to 511
Area of KBA (km2): 12979.16111
Protected area coverage (%): 83.97
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: No
Site details
Site description: This KBA (12,979 km2) consists of three selectively logged timber concessions (Forest Management Units or FMUs) within the north of Congo. The Kabo and Pokola FMUs are in the Sangha department, and the Loundoungou-Toukoulaka FMU is in the Likouala department. Two of these (Kabo and Loundoungou-Toukoulaka) are contiguous with the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park. Average annual rainfall within this KBA is about 1600mm with a short dry season in December through February. Temperatures range between 24-26 degrees C. Altitudes are between about 330- 450m above sea level. Most of Northern Congo is part of the 10% of Central Africa that is least affected by humans (https://wcshumanfootprint.org/map/). The entire area of this KBA lies within that 10%, and is covered by mixed-species lowland forest with a few patches of monodominant Gilbertiodendron dewevrei forest. The forest type is typical of the Sangha Interval- one of the three main regions within the larger Guineo-Congolian Phytochorion. During the last 3300 years the area was continuously covered with forest, and did not degrade to savannah (Brncic et al 2007). Within this KBA are embedded a large number of mineral-rich forest clearings, commonly called “bais” which are highly attractive to forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, forest buffalo, and other large forest mammals.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The three FSC-certified forest management concessions of Kabo, Loundoungou-Toukoulaka and Pokola cover 447,167 km2 and form a unit managed by a single logging company. The two northren concessions are contiguous with the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park and the southern one with the Ngombe-Epoma KBA. These FMUs contain significant biodiversity, especially for the large mammals of the region. Regular surveys of wildlife densities within these concessions have shown that the populations of the most threatened species - two species of great apes and African Forest Elephant - as well as the ungulate species within these areas, have all remained stable since at least 2006 (Brncic et al 2017). The trigger species for this KBA include nine threatened mammal species, one threatened bird species and 4 threatened plant species. The mammals are African Golden Cat (Caracal aurata; VU, A1d), Western Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla: CR - over 6% of the global population live within this KBA, A1a, A1c), Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes: EN, A1a, A1c), Grey-cheeked Mangabey (Lophocebus albigena: VU, A1d), Oustalet's Red Colobus (Piliocolobus oustaleti: VU: over 3% of the global population, A1b, A1d), Black-bellied Pangolin (Phataginus tetradactyla: VU, A1d), White-bellied Pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis: EN, A1c), Giant Ground Pangolin (Smutsia gigantea: EN, A1c) and almost 6% of the world population of African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis: CR, A1a, A1c). The bird is Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus: EN, A1c). In addition, KBA trigger species (threatened plants) occur within the site : Autranella congolensis (EN, A1a), Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata: EN, A1a, A1c), Entandrophragma candollei (VU, A1d) et Diospyros crassiflora (VU, A1d).
Additional biodiversity: Of particular interest within the site are several large forest clearings which, although they cover a very small percentage of the surface area of this KBA, are of high importance for large mammals. Some of these clearings are swampy, and filled with sedges and aquatic herbs; others are sandy. Both types attract large mammals, notably Western Gorillas, African Forest Elephants, Forest Buffalo, Bongo, and Sitatunga, which use the clearings for foraging and for social interactions.
Manageability of the site: The Kabo, Loundoungou-Toukoulaka and Pokola forest concessions are operated and managed by a single manager : Congolaise Industrielle du Bois (CIB), a subsidiary of Olam Agri, under an agreement signed between the Ministry of Forest Economy and the company.
This company specialises in logging, industrial processing and marketing of wood and has been based in Northern Congo since 1969, starting in the Commune of Pokola (in the Sangha Department).
This KBA has forestry management plans for each of the component concessions, all of which define conservation zones as set-asides. The management plans define clear conservation measures - including antipoaching patrols, control of vehicles within the concession, and internal regulations concerning wildlife and habitat protection - as part of daily procedures.
All three concessions are FSC-certified, and are also part of an ecosystem management project (PROGEPP) surrounding the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park. The whole KBA is regularly surveyed for wildlife as part of the adaptive management of the area (last report available is Brncic et al. 2017, and fieldwork was completed in late 2023 for the most recent cycle). If timber companies carry out effective antipoaching, large mammal populations can be maintained (Zwerts 2023), and the most recent wildlife report (Brncic et al. 2017) shows that this has indeed been the case since 2006.
Other site values: Ba'Aka, Mbendjele
Delineation rationale: This KBA comprises three forest management units: the concessions of Kabo, Pokola, and Loundougou-Toukoulaka as set in the official decrees/conventions/management plans of these Forest Management Units.
Starting in the north at the confluence of the Motaba and Mokala rivers, and moving south, the KBA is aligned with the eastern and southern limits of the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park. It then follows the border with the Central African Republic until it reaches the Sangha River, and then follows the Sangha downstream until 0.391 N, 16.984 E. It then follows the administrative limit northwards between the Sangha and Likouala Departments until 1.088 N, 16.750 E, and then subsequently follows the limit between the terra firma to the west and the marshes to the east until the Motaba river (which is the Northern limit of the KBA) and then upstream to its confluence with the Mokala river.
To its southwest, is also aligned with the eastern limit of the proposed KBA Ngombe-Epoma (KBA ID 100274).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: This KBA is located in the phytogeographical formation semi-sempervirent moist dense tropical forests (transition from sempervirent to semi-deciduous forests). A part of it is on terra firma, and about 20-30% is floodable/flooded/marshes. In places one can find large patches of monodominant Gilbertiodendron dewevrei forest. Some secondary forests, fallows and agricultural land are also present, in particular next to villages or towns.
In terms of IUCN habitat types, the principal type 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) in the lower-lying areas close to the streams. The rest is covered by permanent and seasonal watercourses (IUCN habitat types 5.1. Wetlands (inland) – Permanent rivers/streams/creeks (includes waterfalls) and 5.2. Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks). There are small patches of shifting subsistence cultivation around the villages on the road and along the major rivers (IUCN habitat type 14.4 Rural Gardens).
Land use: This KBA is comprised of three timber concessions operated and managed by the same company: CIB-OLAM. They are all FSC-certified.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 20 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical swamp |
| Forest | 70 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats to this KBA are due to the primary land use (selective logging under Government permit) and its direct impacts (creation of roads, tree felling, pollution, etc.) and indirect impacts (above all, illegal hunting, and illegal settlements (where they are not regulated)
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| 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 |
Additional information
References: Brncic, T. M., Willis, K. J., Harris, D. J. & Washington, R. (2007) Culture or climate? The relative influences of past processes on the composition of the lowland Congo rainforest. Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 362, 229-242. Brncic, T., Madzoke, B., Ndzai, C., Bomomo, V., Samba, O., Bambi, F., Elari, J., Mboussa, F., Mouamana, A., Mpambori, V., Malonga, P., Bahamboula, J., Mapembi, A., Magema, E., Mougani, C., Mouele, A., Abea, G., Maisels, F. & Strindberg , S. (2018) Results of the 2016-2017 large mammal survey of the Ndoki-Likouala landscape. In, p. 43. WCS Congo, Brazzaville, Congo.
CIB (2006) Plan d’aménagement de l’Unité Forestière d’Aménagement de Kabo (2005 – 2034) In, p. 316. Congolaise Industrielle des Bois, Brazzaville, Congo.
CIB (2007) Plan d’aménagement de l’Unité Forestière d’Aménagement de Pokola (2007 – 2035) In, p. 221. Congolaise Industrielle des Bois, Brazzaville, Congo.
CIB (2010) Plan d’aménagement de l’Unité Forestière d’Aménagement de Loundoungou-Toukoulaka (2010-2044) In, p. 269. Congolaise Industrielle des Bois, Brazzaville, Congo.
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); Gwili Gibbon (African Parks);
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)