Kakum National Park - Assin Attandaso Resource Reserve (6324)
Ghana, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Kakum National Park - Assin Attandaso Resource Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.4333, Longitude: -1.3167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 135 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 368.77947
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Kakum National Park and the contiguous Assin Attandanso Resource Reserve are situated in the Central Region, about 30 minutes drive north of Cape Coast. Together, the two sites protect some 36,600 ha of moist evergreen forest (Kakum 21,200 ha, Assin Attandanso 15,400 ha). The terrain is generally flat with some hills in the south-western corner. The greater part of the site has been selectively logged. Kakum was logged from at least 1975 to 1989, while logging in Assin Attandanso was continuous from 1975 to 1988. The recently logged areas currently support a thick undergrowth, vine tangles and regenerating secondary forest, but good forest still remains in other areas, with a well-developed canopy and a comparatively open understorey.
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 site is one of the best-studied in Ghana with 266 species known to occur and a further 56 reported to do so, but requiring confirmation. The eight species of global conservation concern include Agelastes meleagrides which, however, occurs only in very low numbers due to past heavy hunting pressure. Nine species of hornbill have been recorded and Psittacus erithacus are commonly seen, mornings and evenings, flying overhead between roosting and feeding sites. Non-bird biodiversity: Oates et al. (1997) report more frequent encounters with monkeys at Kakum than at any other site surveyed in Ghana. Species present included Colobus vellerosus (VU), Procolobus verus (LR/nt) and, possibly, Cercopithecus diana roloway (CR). The site is also reported to have the highest density of Loxodonta africana cyclotis (EN) recorded nationally.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 90 | |
| Unknown | 6 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 3 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Both Kakum and Assin Attandanso were originally Forest Reserves, designated in 1931 and 1937, respectively. Following recommendations dating back to the 1960s, Kakum Reserve was given National Park status and Assin Attandanso became a Resource Reserve, and the two were placed under the administration of the Wildlife Department. Under the direction of Conservation International and with funding support from USAID, Kakum is certainly the best-protected forest site in Ghana, and has been developed in recent years to become a major tourist attraction. Poaching continues to be a major problem, but it is hoped that levels will be reduced in the near future, as a result of moves to return some of the benefits of tourism from the park to local communities and involve them in its management.
Additional information
References: Byskov (1992), Coles (1994), Daramani (1990), Moyer (1995), Oates et al. (1997), Roell et al. (1993).