Tchabal-Mbabo (6112)
Cameroon, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1e, B2

Year of last assessment: 2018

National site name: Tchabal Mbabo

Central coordinates: Latitude: 7.2667, Longitude: 12.1500

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 800 to 2456

Area of KBA (km²): 3123.47183

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Tchabal Mbabo lies close to the Nigerian border and, at 2,456 m, its summit is the highest point on the Adamaoua plateau. It is situated some 50 km west of the town of Tignère and about 80 km north-east of the Gangirwal Peak of Mambilla plateau in neighbouring Nigeria, practically contiguous with Gashaka-Gumti National Park (NG002). The high plateau takes the shape of a west–east oriented crescent; the north and west-facing slopes bear extensive montane forest (at c.1,600–2,000 m) and there are numerous galleries of montane forest on the grassy plateau. Sudanian woodland occurs on the lower slopes. The plateau grasslands are grazed by Fulani cattle; the surrounding country is very sparsely inhabited.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Two short surveys resulted in a total of 134 species which include, in addition to those mentioned below, nine Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04) and six Guinea–Congo Forests biome (A05) species (Table 3). Tchabal Mbabo is evidently important for a number of montane range-restricted species; more surveys are needed and Apalis bamendae should be looked for in gallery forest on the lower slopes. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals include isolated populations of Redunca fulvorufula adamauae (EN) and Hylochoerus meinertzhageni (EN).

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | not utilised

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	50
Grassland	50

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Due to their inaccessibility, the forests on the steep north-facing slopes are virtually intact. The plateau grasslands suffer from overgrazing and erosion by Fulani cattle; some montane forest on the plateau has recently given way to maize plantations.

Additional information