Lake Sonfon and environs (6831)
Sierra Leone, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2001
National site name: Lake Sonfon and environs
Central coordinates: Latitude: 9.3333, Longitude: -11.5000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 850 to 850
Area of KBA (km2): 26.72203
Protected area coverage (%): 14.84
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Lake Sonfon (5,180 ha) is situated in a remote area in the mountainous north-east of the country. The nearest large town is Kabala, 60 km to the north. The lake is surrounded by hills, the vegetation of which comprises open grassland and wooded savanna, with fringing forest and, in some places, farmbush. Several small streams flow into the lake and these provide the main source of water for local communities. The lake is a centre of traditional beliefs and ceremonies for the local people.
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 105 species have so far been recorded from this poorly surveyed area. More species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome than currently recorded are expected to occur; among those which are known to be present is Coccycolius iris. Non-bird biodiversity: Among mammals, Cephalophus niger (LR/nt), C. maxwelli (LR/nt) and Hexaprotodon liberiensis (VU) have all been recorded.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 70 | |
| Savanna | 20 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The lake has been proposed as a National Park, but no management plan exists for the area. The scenic landscape offers ecotourism potential. The main threats are deforestation around the lake for agriculture, high hunting pressure (especially in the surrounding forest patches), and gold mining in the vicinity of the lake (perhaps the greatest potential long-term threat to the lake’s ecology).
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Phillipson (1978).