Key Biodiversity Areas

Tankwidi Forest Reserve (6340)
Ghana, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Tankwidi Forest Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.7333, Longitude: -0.9500
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 130 to 150
Area of KBA (km2): 304.45094
Protected area coverage (%): 79.93
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The reserve is situated in the extreme north of the country, to the south of the road linking Bolgatanga and Navrongo. The topography is generally flat with an elevation of no more than 150 m. The Tankwidi river bisects the reserve and flows southwards to join the White Volta at the southern end of the reserve, on the border with the Northern Region. The site is characterized by Guinea Savanna woodland, with short trees, shrubs and grasses mainly of the tribe Andropogoneae. Dominant plant species include Combretum, Terminalia and Butyrospermum spp. There is a small plantation of teak Tectona grandis.
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)
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 3 for key species. Some 78 species have been recorded, including Bucorvus abyssinicus and Eupodotis melanogaster. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | forestry | water management

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include the construction of an airstrip (suspended at the time of the survey) and heavy grazing by domestic stock. The decision to build an airstrip on the reserve needs to be reconsidered carefully. The reserve is also threatened by illegal gold mining, although this was under control at the time of the survey as a result of a military presence in the area.