Lofa-Gola-Mano Complex (6457)
Liberia, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2015

National site name: Lofa-Gola-Mano Complex

Central coordinates: Latitude: 7.5938, Longitude: -10.5838

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 150 to 800

Area of KBA (km²): 4378.54318

Protected area coverage (%): 21.84

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This proposed National Park includes part of Gola National Forest. It is situated in western Liberia between the Lofa and Mano rivers which, with their tributaries, drain the park. The international frontier with Sierra Leone forms the western boundary of the site, where it is contiguous with the Gola Forest Reserves IBA in Sierra Leone (SL010). The proposed park covers a large area of rainforest, evergreen in the south, becoming progressively more semi-deciduous to the north. The park also includes large patches of low bush, marshes and some savanna on lateritic soil. The region consists of a series of ridges of rounded hillocks with, in places, steep, bare, rocky slopes and river valleys. The rivers are characterized by spectacular rapids and waterfalls and are usually unfordable. The human population within the park is very low and the vegetation remains largely unmodified.

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. It is possible that part of the western population of Malimbus ballmanni will be found to occur. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals recorded include Loxodonta africana (EN), Hexaprotodon liberiensis (VU), Pan troglodytes (EN) and Cercopithecus diana (VU).

Habitats

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Unknown	7
Artificial - Terrestrial	3
Forest	88

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area was proposed as a National Park in 1983. Prior to the outbreak of the civil war the main threats came from the development of a railway line and a proposed iron-ore pipeline, connecting LISCO mines to the north with a planned new harbour at Robertsport. There was also a proposal for the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Mano river. However, the main areas that would have been flooded are outside the proposed park and, indeed, the dam would have provided a solid economic argument for conserving the forest upstream, to protect the water catchment. With the return of political stability, these proposed developments may recur. More likely is the threat from logging; although hitherto unlogged, there were plans for logging concessions in parts of the south-east, where part of the proposed park overlaps with Kpelle National Forest.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Small-holder farming	Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Work & other activities		Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing

Additional information