Tchimpounga Natural Reserve (6088)
Congo, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b
Year of last assessment: 2023
National site name: Tchimpounga Reserve Naturelle
Central coordinates: Latitude: -4.4475, Longitude: 11.8628
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 27 to 282
Area of KBA (km2): 532.17028
Protected area coverage (%): 92.56
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This KBA (534 km2) is a roughly rectangular shaped protected area in southern, coastal of Congo, in the Kouilou department. It lies about 50km north of the regional capital of Pointe Noire and it is about 15km wide from north to south. Average annual rainfall within this KBA is about 1060mm with a long dry season from June through September. The annual temperature is about 24 degrees C. Relief is very flat across most of the site: altitudes range between about 30m above sea level near the coast to ~150m inland. The habitat is mostly coastal forests (both terra firma and swamp forest) with some patches of savanna interlaced by gallery forests. The coastal half of this KBA was surveyed for wildlife in 2010 (Pintea et al. 2012). The site holds at least 190 wild chimpanzees, and several species of monkeys and forest ungulates. The direct management of the KBA is carried out by the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) in partnership with the Government of Congo, which includes community ecogardes. JGI has a chimpanzee rescue sanctuary within this KBA.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This relatively small KBA (for Congo) covers just over 530 km2, and is managed as a protected area by a partnership between the Government and the Jane Goodall Institute. Within it is a chimpanzee rehabilitation site. Recently, at least one mining concession has been approved for this site, which could pose a threat to the wildlife unless very strict and effective antipoaching efforts can be carried out. One animal species and one plant species trigger this KBA; both trigger the A1 criterion. The trigger species are: a fish species: Amphilius mamonekenensis (VU); KBA criterion A1b. The plant species is (Salacia arenicola (VU); KBA criterion A1b).
Additional biodiversity: This KBA supports a small population of hippopotamus, and African manatee occur at the site.
Manageability of the site: The Agence Congolaise de la Faune et des Aires Protégées (ACFAP), under the supervision of the Ministry of Forest Economy, is the management body for this protected area in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI). A collaboration protocol was signed between these two institutions in 1995.
Supersedes another site: Existing KBA: Lower Kouilou Basin (KBA ID 6088). The Congo National Coordination Group and the Regional KBA Focal Point has been consulted, and agree.
Delineation rationale: This KBA lies within the existing KBA of "Lower Kouilou basin", KBA ID 47125. It now comprises only the protected area of Tchimpounga: this PA has the WDPA ID 99855.
The southwestern limit is mostly contiguous with the proposed KBA of the Baie de Loango (also a protected area: this is also a KBA (ID 100271). The northeastern limits are logging concessions. The northwestern limit is the Kouilou River. The north eastern limit is the Ntombo logging concession. Finally, the southeastern limits are adjacent to unattributed land.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: 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, with areas of swamp forest (IUCN habitat type 1.8. Forest – Subtropical/tropical swamp) in the lower-lying areas close to the streams and rivers. There arepermanent and seasonal watercourses (IUCN habitat types 5.1. Wetlands (inland) – Permanent rivers/streams/creeks (includes waterfalls), small lakes (5.5. Wetlands (inland) – Permanent freshwater lakes (over 8 ha)) and 5.2. Wetlands (inland) – Seasonal/intermittent/irregular rivers/streams/creeks) with small patches of shifting subsistence cultivation around the villages (IUCN habitat type 14.4 Rural Gardens).
Land use: Protected area managed as a partnership between JGI and the Government
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 50 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist lowland |
| Forest | 50 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical swamp |
| Savanna | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Local subsistence and commercial hunting is the current threat to this site, and one mining concession has been approved for this site (late 2023).
| 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) | Unknown |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Only in the future | |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: 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 (ed by, p. 30. Cancun, Mexico.
Contributors: The experts who examined the data for this site are the following:
Freshwater fish: Victor Mamonekene (Ecole Nationale Superieure 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)