Yapo and Mambo Forest Reserves (6102)
Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Forêt Classée de Yapo et Mambo
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.7000, Longitude: -4.1000
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 75 to 100
Area of KBA (km2): 305.98367
Protected area coverage (%): 93.96
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site is located 55 km north of Abidjan and comprises two Forest Reserves, separated by the Abidjan–Agboville road and the railway line linking Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, but known collectively as Yapo. The area is largely flat, cut by a number of small streams with a few swampy areas, and is covered almost entirely by evergreen forest in which typical species include Diospyros spp., Dacryodes klaineana, Piptadeniastrum africanum, Heritiera utilis, Anopyxis klaineana and Scottellia chevalieri. Yapo was established as a Forest Reserve in 1930 and has been selectively managed since as an experimental site for the sustainable extraction of indigenous forest timber. Initially, mature specimens of non-commercial tree species were selectively poisoned (but not removed) over large areas and subsequently replanted with commercially valuable native species such as Khaya ivorensis. More recently, the selective poisoning has not been followed by replanting, but the forest left to regenerate in the hope that marketable species, released from competition, would put on extra growth. Selective logging recommenced in 1989; 400 ha have been planted with trials of exotic tree species. Average annual rainfall is 1,750 mm.
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) KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Guinea Forests of West Africa Hotspot (2015). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat status follow the 2013 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. A total of 225 species have been recorded. Ceratogymna cylindricus has been recorded once or twice, but it is not thought that a breeding population remains. Large species such as hornbills are very scarce due to hunting, but despite this and the management practices to which the forest has been subject, the site still contains a wide range of forest species including some rarely recorded species such as Dryotriorchis spectabilis, Agapornis swinderniana and Batis occulta. Criniger olivaceus appears to be much more common here than in the more extensive and less disturbed forests of Taï National Park (IBA CI011). Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: forestry | hunting | nature conservation and research | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 89 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 3 | |
| Unknown | 7 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There are few large mammals (or indeed large birds) as a consequence of widespread poaching. The suitability of the site for at least some of the forest bird species depends upon the continuance of the current, relatively benign forest management practices.
Additional information
References: Demey and Fishpool (1994).