Tano-Nimiri Forest Reserve (6332)
Ghana, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Tano-Nimiri Forest Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 5.6333, Longitude: -2.6167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 46 to 244
Area of KBA (km2): 206.74471
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Tano-Nimiri Forest Reserve shares a common boundary with Boin-Tano (GH004) and is about 4 km from the Tano-Anwia Reserve (GH020). A number of streams and rivers, including the Nimiri river, flow through the reserve and drain into the Tano river, on which there is a waterfall, the Atangwen Falls. The terrain between the rivers is rugged, with steep slopes and valleys that flood during the rains. The reserve spans two vegetation-types: the southern section, approximately one-third, is wet evergreen forest, while the remainder is moist evergreen forest. The reserve has been subjected to intensive logging, starting from the mid-1950s and continuing to 1992. Approximately 10% of the reserve was planned for either enrichment or afforestation planting in the early 1980s. Under the taungya system, 975 ha (c.5% of the total) has been converted to Cedrela and Triplochiton plantation and there are also farms in the reserve.
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: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: forestry | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 3 | |
| Unknown | 7 | |
| Forest | 88 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area was gazetted a Forest Reserve in 1955. It is rated Condition 3 (GHI 70–157), with much of the forest heavily disturbed. More recently, 3,456 ha have been designated as a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area by the Forest Department. Non-timber forest produce exploited includes raphia palm, oil-palm, canes and poles. Evidence of past mining activities along the banks of the Tano river is still visible.
Additional information
References: Hawthorne and Abu-Juam (1995), Holbech (1996).