Falgore and Lame Burra Game Reserves (6758)
Nigeria, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Falgore and Lame Burra Game Reserves
Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.7860, Longitude: 9.0384
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 95 to 185
Area of KBA (km2): 2891.35982
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Falgore Game Reserve (92,000 ha), formerly Kogin Kano Forest Reserve, is located some 110 km south of Kano on the Jos–Kano road. The vegetation is open Northern Guinea Savanna woodland with elements of the Sudan Savanna in the north. Tree heights reach 9–14 m. The northern boundary is formed by the artificial Lake Tiga which, when full, submerges the north-western tip of the reserve. The reserve is bisected by the Kano river which, together with its tributaries, the Maiwa, Kumbo and Randa, drain the reserve. To the south-east of Falgore lies Lame Burra Game Reserve (205,900 ha) in Bauchi State. Here also the vegetation is typical Northern Guinea Savanna with, in the north, areas of transition to Sudan Savanna. The 50 km wide strip of thinly inhabited, unprotected savanna woodland that separates the reserves is included in the IBA.
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. A total of 261 species have, to date, been recorded at Falgore, and 101 at Lame Burra. Other species of interest include Ciconia ciconia and Falco vespertinus, both regular passage migrants, Terathopius ecaudatus, Himantopus himantopus, Telacanthura ussheri, Bucorvus abyssinicus and Oenanthe bottae. Non-bird biodiversity: The following mammals of global conservation concern occur, or used to do so; Hippotragus equinus (LR/cd), Alcelapus buselaphus (LR/cd), Syncerus caffer (LR/cd), Cephalophus rufilatus (LR/cd), Gazella rufifrons (VU) and Panthera leo (VU). Populations of all are very low and some may have been extirpated.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | hunting | nature conservation and research | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 22 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 76 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Poaching, illegal grazing, over-fishing (including use of chemical poisons) and bush fires are the major threats. Protection of Falgore is crucial to the longevity of Tiga Lake, as deforestation of the reserve would speed up siltation of the lake. Conservation in both reserves would benefit from their merger and upgrade to National Park status.
| 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 | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not 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
References: Anadu (1987), Ebin (1983), Sharland and Wilkinson (1981), WCMC (1988), Wilkinson and Beecroft (1985).