Banyang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary (6120)
Cameroon, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: B2

Year of last assessment: 2015

National site name: Banyang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary

Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.3343, Longitude: 9.6453

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 200 to 1756

Area of KBA (km²): 691.4475

Protected area coverage (%): 94.07

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Banyang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary lies between the towns of Nguti and Bangem, to the east of the Nguti–Mamfe road. Situated between Korup National Park (CM019) to the west and Santchou (CM018) to the east, Banyang Mbo falls naturally into two sections, a northern block of about 34,000 ha, lying between 200 m and 500 m, where the terrain is generally flat, and a mountainous southern part (which represents a small northern extension of the Bakossi mountains, CM022), where the land rises to over 1,700 m. The vegetation in the northern block is coastal evergreen rainforest while, in the south, it is a mix of mid-altitude and montane forest. The two sectors are separated by a transition zone of inselbergs supporting low-canopy forest. There are also extensive patches of secondary forest where logging has occurred. Average annual rainfall is c.3,000 mm.

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. 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. The avifauna is rich, with 322 species recorded, and includes Telophorus kupeensis, recently found to occur, along with many species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome. One species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04) also occurs (Table 3). Non-bird biodiversity: The population of Loxodonta africana (EN) has been significantly reduced by poaching. Other mammals that remain include Pan troglodytes (EN) and Mandrillus leucophaeus (EN).

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | forestry | hunting | nature conservation and research

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Banyang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary was gazetted in 1996 when the pre-existing Banyang Mbo Council Forest Reserve was extended to include the mountains. The sanctuary was created for the protection of certain mammal species and crocodiles. It is under pressure from logging, hunting and agricultural encroachment—there are a number of villages within the sanctuary boundaries (indeed, this is allowed by law). The populations of some large mammal species have been seriously affected by hunting. A community-based conservation project is working in the region.

Additional information