Lama Forest (6043)
Benin, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Lama Forest
Central coordinates: Latitude: 6.9500, Longitude: 2.1333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 50 to 60
Area of KBA (km2): 171.84221
Protected area coverage (%): 99.99
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Forêt Classée de la Lama (also known as the Forêt de Ko), in the centre-south of the country, south of the city of Abomey, used to comprise 16,000 ha of natural forest but by 1986, when a core area was designated for special protection, the amount of intact forest had been reduced to 2,400 ha. This core area of 4,500 ha, known as the Noyau Central, includes within it the remaining dense forest (now only 1,800 ha) with Afzelia africana, Bombax buonopozense, Ceiba pentandra and Parinari excelsa. Lama forest lies in an east–west oriented depression, the clay soils of which permit flooding of extensive areas in the wet season. This flooding is inimical to some tree species and their absence may account for a scarcity of frugivorous bird species in the forest. The Noyau Central is an ecological island surrounded by degraded forest, plantations of teak (Tectonia grandis), tree-less bush dominated by Chromolaena odorata and farmland.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 2 for key species. To date, 106 species have been recorded, many of which are species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome, such as Sarothrura pulchra, Phyllastrephus albigularis, Bleda syndactyla, B. canicapilla, Illadopsis puveli, Apalis rufogularis and Fraseria ocreata. The forest also supports a population of Guttera pucherani. Further surveys will undoubtedly lead to the discovery of more forest species. In addition, two species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04) have also been recorded; see Table 2. Non-bird biodiversity: Cephalophus silvicultor (LR/cd) has been recorded.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 3 | |
| Shrubland | 53 | |
| Forest | 36 | |
| Unknown | 6 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include continuing degradation of the surrounding forest, encroaching farmland and, probably, poaching, burning and logging.