Korup National Park (6122)
Cameroon, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Korup National Park
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.2175, Longitude: 8.9646
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 3 to 1079
Area of KBA (km2): 1291.15223
Protected area coverage (%): 93.04
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Korup National Park is located north-west of Mount Cameroon (CM027) on the international frontier with south-east Nigeria (and is thus contiguous with Cross River National Park—Okwangwo Division (NG010). Although the altitude ranges from just above sea-level to over 1,000 m, the terrain is generally flat, with hills and escarpments found only in the northern section of the park; the highest peak (Mount Ekundukundu) is located in the centre of the park. The vegetation is unbroken coastal evergreen rainforest with abundant Caesalpinaceae and Sacoglottis gabonensis. The forests of Korup are floristically diverse. Annual average rainfall is approximately 5,460 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. The avifauna is relatively well known, with some 320 species recorded in and on the margins of the National Park, including a large number of species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals of global conservation concern include Mandrillus leucophaeus (EN), Cercopithecus preussi (EN), Pan troglodytes (EN) and Loxodonta africana (EN). Of special importance is the occurrence of Procolobus (badius) preussi (EN).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | hunting | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Established as a forest reserve in 1962, the area was upgraded to a National Park in 1986. For many years a number of international organizations and institutions have been working in collaboration with the Government of Cameroon to improve the management of the Korup National Park. Despite all efforts, poaching, agricultural encroachment (from industrial plantations and from villages situated inside the park) and logging still pose serious threats.
Additional information
References: Gartlan (1989), Rodewald et al. (1994), Thomas (1991).