Pra-Sushien Forest Reserve (6328)
Ghana, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Pra-Sushien Forest Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.2667, Longitude: -1.5333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 45 to 200
Area of KBA (km2): 184.77306
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Pra-Sushien Forest Reserve forms an irregular-shaped block stretching from south-west to north-east, from the Pra river near Hemang village to the Cape-Coast–Praso road near Abrafo Odumase, and is separated from Kakum National Park (GH014) by a road. The terrain of the reserve is very undulating with hilly slopes and narrow valleys, making access difficult. The area is drained by tributaries of the Pra river. The vegetation is moist evergreen forest, and areas of primary and mature secondary forest well represented. Records, however, show continuous logging between 1975 and 1991. Southern parts of the reserve, heavily disturbed, but good forest persists in the areas near Kakum
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. This area yielded the highest species count of any site—120 species in 10 days. Species recorded include eight birds of prey and nine species of hornbill including the threatened Ceratogymna elata and C. cylindricus and the uncommon C. subcylindricus. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals reported to occur at the site include Procolobus verus (LR/nt), Cephalophus dorsalis (LR/nt) and Neotragus pygmaeus (LR/nt).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 10 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Forest | 80 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Although the site was designated a Forest Reserve in 1928, large areas have been degraded as a result of logging and farming activities. The forest is classified as Condition 2, with a GHI ranging from 86 to 112.
Additional information
References: Ghana Wildlife Society (1998), Hawthorne and Abu-Juam (1995).