Cape Three Points Forest Reserve (6318)
Ghana, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Cape Three Points Forest Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 4.8560, Longitude: -2.0473
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 91 to 152
Area of KBA (km2): 45.4504
Protected area coverage (%): 54.83
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Cape Three Points reserve is located near Princes Town in the Western Region of Ghana. The scenic beauty of the area and proximity of forest to the sea (c.3 km from the coast) make it nationally unique. The site has a series of small hills with altitudes varying between 91–152 m and is drained by only one river, the Nyan. The eastern part of the reserve adjoins rubber plantations and there are farms in the surrounding unreserved forest, while seven occur in the reserve itself. Although there has been some illegal felling of trees for fish smoking, a large proportion of the reserve (some 3,200 ha of the northern part) remains intact. The reserve has been extensively studied botanically, with plant collections dating from as far back as 1780. Mean annual rainfall in the area is c.1,400 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. Although relatively small, Cape Three Points reserve supports an interesting avifauna and is one of the relatively few sites from where Ceratogymna elata was recorded. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals reported include Cercocebus atys lunulatus (CR), Cercopithecus diana roloway (CR) and Tragelaphus eurycerus (LR/nt).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | urban/industrial/transport | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 20 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Forest | 69 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The site was declared a Forest Reserve in 1949. The forest is only lightly disturbed (Condition 2) with a high GHI (220), which has prompted calls for its complete protection. There is evidence of past gold-mining activity, including prospecting pits and small abandoned mines, and there have also been some recent moves to carry out further prospecting in the area. Wildlife resources are under severe threat from the large human population in the area. The site, with beautiful beaches and an old castle nearby, offers good opportunities for tourism.
Additional information
References: Hawthorne and Abu-Juam (1995), Holbech (1996).