IITA Forest Reserve, Ibadan (6744)
Nigeria, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: IITA Forest Reserve, Ibadan
Central coordinates: Latitude: 7.3878, Longitude: 3.8585
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 227 to 227
Area of KBA (km2): 3.27022
Protected area coverage (%): 99.93
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The reserve is an area of secondary forest within the 1,000 ha concession of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), located on the outskirts of Ibadan. Regeneration following protection since 1965 has resulted in forest now showing few signs of human disturbance. Areas now resemble mature Guinea–Congo lowland rainforest with scattered emergents which include Ceiba, Milicia and Terminalia spp. Large clumps of bamboo Bambusa vulgaris are common; stands of Raphia vinifera are found along watercourses while scattered oil-palms Elaeis guineensis grow in both low-lying and the relatively better-drained upland areas. Thickets of climbers grow in openings where the secondary nature of the forest is most apparent. Outside the forest is an extensive area of derived savanna supporting fallow fields and experimental agricultural plots. The wet season extends from March to October and annual rainfall is 1,500–2,000 mm.
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 Table 3 for key species. A total of over 300 bird species have been recorded in the reserve. There have been several recent observations of Malimbus ibadanensis. Other species include Gallinago media, an infrequent visitor, and seven Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04) species (see Table 3). A diverse assemblage of Palearctic waterbirds winter at the site. Non-bird biodiversity: Some 15 species of plant of conservation concern (including an Entada species which produces the longest fruit of any plant in West Africa) occur in the reserve.
Habitats
Land use: forestry | nature conservation and research | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: As forest patches in the Ibadan area disappear, the reserve will become increasingly isolated. Although IITA intends to continue managing the reserve as a conservation area, there is an urgent need for the protection of other forest patches in the area as it is unlikely that the IITA reserve is, in itself, large enough to ensure the continued presence of many species, including Malimbus ibadanensis, in the region.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Agro-industry farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Agro-industry plantations | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture | Only in the future |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest] | Only in the future |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of ground water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Herbicides and pesticides | Only in the future |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Ash (1991), Bosque-Perez and Bock (1996), Elgood and Sibley (1964), Fishpool (2000), Zachmann et al. (1995).