Wonegizi mountains (6456)
Liberia, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2015

National site name: Wonegizi mountains

Central coordinates: Latitude: 8.1667, Longitude: -9.5333

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 500 to 1145

Area of KBA (km²): 288.68373

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Wonegizi mountains are situated in the north-west of the country against the international frontier with Guinea. The Wonegizi range, which includes the third-highest point in Liberia, is a southern spur of the Guinea Highlands and the site is contiguous with the Massif du Ziama Biosphere Reserve (GN016) in Guinea. The terrain is rugged with broad cliffs and rocky outcrops. The vegetation consists mainly of semi-deciduous forest, similar in composition to that found on the Wologizi mountains (LR001), some 50 km to the west. The sites spans a still largely intact transition from lowland rainforest to semi-montane Parinari-dominated forest at altitude.

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 that have been recorded include Loxodonta africana (EN), Pan troglodytes (EN), Tragelaphus euryceros (LR/nt) and Cephalophus zebra (VU).

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | hunting

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Unknown	44
Forest	33
Artificial - Terrestrial	22

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 area remains unlogged, largely because of the terrain. However, prior to the civil war, attempts were being made to obtain a logging concession for the north-western side of Wonegizi. With the return of political stability the threat of logging is likely to be renewed. There are no villages within the proposed reserve, but many around its borders. Forest clearance for shifting cultivation is likely to be a problem. Other threats include the affects of the continuing instability in the area and in neighbouring parts of Sierra Leone and Guinea, as well as hunting.

Additional information