Santchou Faunal Reserve (6121)
Cameroon, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Santchou Faunal Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.2680, Longitude: 10.0521
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 600 to 1300
Area of KBA (km2): 95.05631
Protected area coverage (%): 71.50
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Located south of the town of Dschang, the site is surrounded by four rivers, the Alouno to the north, the Nkam river to the west, to the south by the Metché river and to the east by the Alouo river. The vegetation is a mixture of Sterculiaceae- and Ulmaceae-dominated semi-deciduous forest, shrubby savanna, submontane forest, periodically inundated swamp-forest and grassland. Forest species include Mitragyna ciliata, Lophira alata, Khaya ivorensis, Milicia (Chlorophora) excelsa, Mansonia altissima, Terminalia spp., Klainedoxa gabonensis, Prunus africana and a few emergent Polyscias fulva. The grasslands comprise Pennisetum, Eleusine, Andropogon spp. and Imperata cylindrica. About nine villages are found within the reserve.
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 Table 3 for key species. Some 161 species have so far been recorded from the reserve, including the restricted-range Hirundo fuliginosa (of unknown status; Table 2). This is one of only two IBAs in Cameroon at which the Guinea–Congo Forests biome species Phyllanthus atripennis occurs. One species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04) also occurs (Table 3). Non-bird biodiversity: Large mammals have been considerably reduced by poaching and habitat destruction.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 20 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 20 | |
| Forest | 20 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 20 | |
| Shrubland | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: At its creation the reserve covered an area of 7,000 ha; human encroachment has to date reduced its effective size by about 40%. There are an estimated 3,000 people in the reserve, mainly agriculturists of the Bamiléké and Mbo ethnic groups, who cultivate extensive plantations of coffee, cocoa and oil-palm. Permanent structures in the reserve include Government-owned schools. The submontane forest is heavily exploited for Prunus africana. Other species exploited for medicinal purposes include Voacanga africana, Gnetum africanum and Amaranthaceae. Since most of the savanna and swamp-forest areas of the reserve have been encroached upon, it would seem advisable to redefine the borders of the reserve, to include the much less disturbed adjacent hilly areas.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Bobo (2000), Tchamba and Seme (1993).