Chad Basin National Park: Chingurmi - Duguma Sector (6737)
Nigeria, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Chad Basin National Park: Chingurmi - Duguma Sector

Central coordinates: Latitude: 11.7500, Longitude: 14.2500

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 305 to 305

Area of KBA (km²): 6037.65811

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Chad Basin National Park (CBNP) is composed of several areas or ‘sectors’ which are geographically remote from one another. The Chingurmi-Duguma Sector is located in the Woloji and Gulumba Districts, south-east of Maiduguri. It lies close to Waza National Park in Cameroon (IBA CM003). The vegetation is typical Sudan–Guinea Savanna, except in the most northerly part of the park where it takes on a more Sahelian aspect, partly due to the influence of human activities. Common tree and shrub species include Acacia spp., Calotropis procera, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Balanites aegyptiaca and Sterculia setigera. A large part of the park is flooded by waters from the Dorma river during the rainy season, creating flood-plain wetlands (e.g. the Kutila fadama) which attracts waterbirds and other wildlife. The common tree of this habitat is Mitragyna sp. Artificial stock watering points have also been created in various places but these do not retain water through the dry season.

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. To date, 66 species have been recorded, including Circus macrourus and 10 species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04, see Table 3). The park has, however, been only poorly surveyed and many more species may be expected to occur, including those of the Sahel biome, since the neighbouring Waza National Park in Cameroon (CM003) holds nine of the 10 species of the biome recorded from that country. The two cranes Grus virgo and Balearica pavonina occur, the former as a winter visitor, the latter is resident. Numida meleagris is very common. Large numbers of Ciconia ciconia winter. Non-bird biodiversity: Gazella rufifrons (VU) and Loxodonta africana (EN) are among the park’s notable mammals. The park also offers Nigeria’s only hope for the re-establishment of the nationally extinct Giraffa camelopardalis (LR/cd) population, since Giraffe (and other mammals) occasionally cross into the park from the Waza National Park in Cameroon.

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | hunting | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Although legally protected as part of a National Park, illegal grazing, fuelwood-collection and hunting take place. Bush fires are frequent. This is probably because local people profess to be unaware that the area was upgraded in 1991 from a Game Reserve to a National Park. Guineafowl egg-collectors invade the park during the species’ breeding season.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Increase in fire frequency/intensity	Ongoing
Pollution	Agricultural & forestry effluents	Type Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Tourism & recreation areas		Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing
Climate change & severe weather	Droughts		Only in the future

Additional information