Fure River Forest Reserve (6322)
Ghana, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Fure River Forest Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.3667, Longitude: -2.2833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 75 to 260
Area of KBA (km2): 158.55411
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Fure River Forest Reserve is situated 11 km south-west of Prestea town and is bisected by the Prestea–Nkwanta road. The terrain comprises steep-sided hills and deep valleys that become flooded in the rainy season. Parts of this forest have been heavily degraded as a result of timber exploitation; 3,004 ha is under logging concessions while 641 ha are Cedrela odorata plantation, which was established in 1971–198. Areas in both the north and the south are still intact. Average annual rainfall is c.1,750 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. Non-bird biodiversity: Cercopithecus diana roloway (CR) occurs and Tragelaphus euryceros (LR/nt) is thought to do so.
Habitats
Land use: forestry | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 85 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 4 | |
| Unknown | 9 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Ownership of the forest lies with the paramount stools of Wassaw Fiase and Wassa Amenfi Traditional Areas. The site was designated a Forest Reserve under local bye-laws in 1940. The forest is rated Condition 3 with a GHI of up to 178. It has been been proposed that parts of the reserve be protected as a Hill Sanctuary. Exploitation of forest products for local use is allowed under permit. Although heavily exploited, the site appears still to support a significant fauna that would benefit from improved protection.
Additional information
References: Hawthorne and Abu-Juam (1995), Holbech (1996).