Cantanhez forests (6390)
Guinea-Bissau, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2019
National site name: Cantanhez forests
Central coordinates: Latitude: 11.3757, Longitude: -14.9565
System: terrestrial, marine
Elevation (m): 0 to 40
Area of KBA (km2): 1007.03467
Protected area coverage (%): 62.24
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The proposed Cantanhez (Canthenthês) Forests National Park is situated in the south-east of the country, on the international border with the Republic of Guinea. The site includes river flood-plains and mangroves on the northern and western banks of the upper reaches of the Rio Cacine and areas of savanna and forest extending inland as far as the village of Cumbijã, thence south-east to the frontier. It includes the best remaining example of semi-humid forest in the country. The forest is dominated by <I>Afzelia africana</I>, <I>Alstonia congensis</I>, <I>Antiaris africana</I>, <I>Ceiba pentandra</I>, <I>Dialium guineense</I>, <I>Ficus</I> spp. and <I>Parinari excelsa</I>. Rainfall is restricted to May–November and does not usually exceed 2,600 mm per annum.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: See Box and Table 2 for key species. The area has yet to be properly surveyed.<P>Non-bird biodiversity: Primates include <I>Pan troglodytes</I> (EN), <I>Procolobus badius</I> (LR/nt), <I>Colobus polykomos</I> (LR/nt) and <I>Papio papio</I> (LR/nt). <I>Trichechus senegalensis</I> (VU) has been recorded from the upper reaches of the Rio Cacine.</P>
Manageability of the site: Site identified based on BirdLife International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, under which manageability is strongly recommended but not explicitly documented
Delineation rationale: The original RSPB boundary was clipped to the coastline to avoid overlap with ajoining marine IBA in Oct 2012. Clipped overlapping areas with marine component using GADM, v4.1. Harmonized boundaries using GADM and WDPA Sept. 2025.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Unknown | 21 | |
| Forest | 67 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Part of the forest was classified as a Non-hunting Reserve, but the regulations are not enforced and there is no effective protection for the forest habitat. The area has been proposed as the Cantanhez (Canthenthês) Forests National Park, and there is apparently general agreement between the central and local authorities and the local population of the need to take action to conserve this area. The human population within the proposed park is estimated at 4,100. Encroachment through shifting cultivation is leading to degradation and destruction, particularly in the northern sector. Hunting has, with the partial exception of primates, reduced or eliminated populations of larger mammals.
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership