Wologizi mountains (6455)
Liberia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Wologizi mountains
Central coordinates: Latitude: 8.0348, Longitude: -9.8597
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 600 to 1447
Area of KBA (km2): 1679.85364
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Wologizi mountains are an isolated area of upland located in north-west of the country, to the south of the town of Voinjama. The area includes Liberia’s highest mountain, Mount Wuteve (Wutuwi) at 1,447 m, as well as several other peaks, including Mount Balagizi (1,100 m). The mountains extend for 22 km with spurs reaching up to 5 km on either side of the ridge. Slopes on the ridge are exceedingly steep and in places form sheer cliffs up to 100 m high. Lower parts are covered with relatively open forest in which trees such as Lophira, Pycnanthus, Tarrietia, Albizia, Samanea and Cryptosepalum spp. are common. With increasing altitude, tree-height decreases and the understorey becomes denser. Above 1,000 m the dominant tree species—Parinari and Ouratea spp.—are stunted and short, and areas of dense bush and grass are more common. The foothills and lower valleys are surrounded by large areas of savanna woodland.
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: Mammals include Loxodonta africana (EN) and Pan troglodytes (EN).
Habitats
Land use: hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 21 | |
| Unknown | 42 | |
| Forest | 36 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: An earlier proposal for the area to be designated a National Park was made again in 2000, but no action has yet been taken. The Wologizi mountains are rich in iron ore and the area was prospected intensively in the 1970s. Roads were built and a settlement called Alabama or LISCO Camp was established on the western side of the mountain. Fire also destroyed the forest and other vegetation on the summit of Mount Wuteve (but not the other peaks) at this time. Although the iron ore remains unworked and the infrastructure has been abandoned, the possibility still exists that interest will be renewed in the future. Other threats include the effects of the continuing instability in the area and in neighbouring parts of Sierra Leone and Guinea, hunting and the possibility of logging.
Additional information
References: Gatter (1997).