Cross River National Park (Okwangwo Division) and Mbe Mountains (6743)
Nigeria, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2015

National site name: Cross River National Park (Okwangwo Division) and Mbe Mountains

Central coordinates: Latitude: 6.2833, Longitude: 9.2333

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 150 to 1700

Area of KBA (km²): 952.87996

Protected area coverage (%): 63.63

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The Okwangwo Division is the northern part of the Cross River National Park (CRNP), separated by about 50 km of disturbed rainforest from the southern Oban Division (NG007). It is located south-west of the Obudu Plateau (NG001) in south-eastern Nigeria and lies immediately east of Afi River Forest Reserve (NG005). It is bordered to the east by Takamanda Forest Reserve in Cameroon. The terrain comprises numerous ridge systems and rocky outcrops. Elevations reach 1,700 m in the Sankwala mountains in the north and about 1,000 m in the Mbe mountains in the south-west. The site is drained by the Oyi, Bemi and Okon rivers, all tributaries of the Cross river. Vegetation consists of two general types; lowland rainforest at lower elevations and montane grasslands (with relict forests in valleys) along high ridge-tops. Areas of derived savanna occur in lowland parts where there has been intense forest degradation. Soils of the lowland areas are ferralitic and highly susceptible to leaching, while those of the grassland areas are ferruginous and very easily eroded when exposed. The area has marked wet (March–November) and dry (December–February) seasons. Up to 4,280 mm of rain falls annually.

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. To date, over 280 species have been recorded including Picathartes oreas, which breeds in the Mbe mountains. Nationally uncommon species include Calyptocichla serina. Non-bird biodiversity: With 18 species, Okwangwo has the highest diversity of primates recorded at a single site in Africa. Species include Pan troglodytes (VU), Gorilla gorilla (VU), Cercopithecus sclateri (EN), Cercopithecus preussi (EN) and Mandrillus leucophaeus (EN). Other large mammals include Loxodonta africana cyclotis (EN) and Syncerus caffer (LR/cd). Two species of Lepidoptera (Tetrarhanis okwango and T. ogojea) new to science have recently been described from the area. Plant diversity is high. A recent plant survey resulted in six first records for the country and four species possibly new to science.

Delineation rationale: 2017-07-03 (BL Secretariat): the site area has been increased slightly from 92,000 ha (2001 IBA) to 95,288 ha (2015 KBA, named 'Mbe Mountains and Cross River National Park: Okwango Division').

Habitats

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

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	92
Artificial - Terrestrial	2
Unknown	4

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: About 66 villages in the buffer zone surrounding the park depend on its resources for their livelihoods. Rate of forest loss to slash-and-burn agriculture is growing as a result of the increasing human population. There is a worrying level of illegal logging. Hunting and fishing are traditional activities in the park’s buffer zone, but chemicals are now used for the latter by some fisherman. Three species of primate are believed to have been extirpated.

Additional information