Mont Manengouba (6124)
Cameroon, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e, B2
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Mont Manengouba
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.0266, Longitude: 9.8393
System: terrestrial, freshwater
Elevation (m): 1100 to 2411
Area of KBA (km2): 87.39799
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Mont Manengouba is situated to the north-west of the town of Nkongsamba. The crater of the volcanic mountain, at 1,950 m, is a large grassy plain c.3 km in diameter with a few low hills, a marshy area to the south and two small, deep volcanic lakes. The surrounding escarpments are very steep, except on the north-western side. The peak (2,411 m), on the south-eastern rim, is forested, while the southern rim is less high (2,100 m) and gives access to extensive forested slopes to the south. Most of the forest in the caldera grows up the eastern and southern rims with a little on the edge of the lakes. It is rather scrubby, with Maesa lanceolata the dominant species and some tall Polyscias fulva locally. However, the largest expanse of forest, which is also much denser, is to be found on the wetter southern and south-eastern slopes, down to an altitude of 1,500 m (above the village of Nsong), but extending lower in the south-east (1,100 m), mainly as galleries. There is little doubt that, in the past, there was a forest continuum between the lower (southern) slopes of Manengouba and Mount Kupe, 20 km to the south-west. Most of the intermediate country is now farmed, but there are still patches of forest locally. The scrubby forest in the crater is little used by the few Fulani cattle-herders in the area and is only marginally damaged by fires.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site contains the entire known populations of Arthroleptis perreti, Cardioglossa manengouba, Cardioglossa trifasciata, Leptodactylodon erythrogaster, and Phrynobatrachus manengoubensis. The White-throated Mountain-babbler and Green-breasted Bush-shrike meet B2 while an additional 112 birds and two mammals meet legacy KBA criteria and are in need of reassessment.
Manageability of the site: This site was identified as a KBA in 2001 and as an AZE during the 2015-2018 AZE project. The Mont Muanenguba Strict Nature Reserve (WDPAID: 555720257) was recently proposed and covers approximately half of the KBA boundary.
Delineation rationale: This site was identified as an IBA/KBA in 2001. An original delineation rationale is not available.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Only in the future | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Ongoing |