Manovo - Gounda - St Floris National Park complex (6077)
Central African Republic, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Manovo - Gounda - St Floris National Park complex
Central coordinates: Latitude: 9.5000, Longitude: 21.5000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 400 to 940
Area of KBA (km2): 29593.76109
Protected area coverage (%): 93.68
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The area consists of the National Park (1,740,000 ha) and adjacent buffer zones of Ouandjia–Vakaga and Aouk–Aoukalé Faunal Reserves (480,000 ha and 330,000 ha, respectively). The park is mainly Sudan–Guinea Savanna woodland, on relatively flat ground and is located in the north-east of the country, where the western edge of the Aouk–Aoukalé Faunal Reserve abuts the international border with Chad. Dominant trees include Terminalia spp., Isoberlinia doka and Anogeissus sp. Along watercourses there is a narrow riparian forest/thicket community, which broadens out in places and even spreads as dryland forest on higher ground. This is of considerable interest, containing as it does a number of southern Guinea–Congo forest species. The low-lying northern part contains extensive flood-plains.
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 3 for key species. Some 418 species are recorded from the area, of which 307 certainly or probably breed. Species of global conservation concern that have been reported are Balaeniceps rex, Circus macrourus, Falco naumanni and Glareola nordmanni. Balaeniceps rex may now be no more than a rare visitor (if it were ever otherwise), in view of the drought and lack of modern sightings. In addition to the IBA’s importance for its Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome avifauna, it also holds, at the northernmost distribution limit of some, 15 species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome (A05; see Table 3). In addition, one Sahel biome species (A03), Ardeotis arabs, also occurs. The site is the only known IBA in the country for no fewer than 35 species. Non-bird biodiversity: The area is important for a number of mammal species including Panthera leo (VU), Acinonyx jubatus (VU), Gazella rufifrons (VU) and Damaliscus lunatus (LR/cd).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 1 | |
| Savanna | 2 | |
| Shrubland | 62 | |
| Forest | 34 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The Aouk–Aoukalé Faunal Reserve to the north of the park has, in the past few years, been invaded by large numbers of cattle. However, the park and associated buffer zone have being managed by the European Union-funded Programme de Développement de la Région du Nord (PDRN) since 1988.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Blancou (1938–1939), Carroll (1988), Christy and Dowsett (in prep.), Fay et al. (1990), Ruggiero (1991).