Kangari Hills Non-hunting Forest Reserve (6835)
Sierra Leone, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Kangari Hills Non-hunting Forest Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 8.5000, Longitude: -11.6667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 200 to 600
Area of KBA (km2): 931.00925
Protected area coverage (%): 21.51
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Forest Reserve at Kangari is situated on a range of hills in the south-central region of the country. The highest peak, Kangari, lies outside the reserve boundary. The hills are drained by a network of rivers, and the valleys through which they flow support swamps that are suitable, once adapted, for agriculture, which is the main occupation of the inhabitants in surrounding villages. At higher altitudes, at 300–600 m, the vegetation is largely closed moist forest, while secondary forest, interrupted by bush fallow, occurs at lower altitudes. Road access into this reserve is only possible through two towns, Bo and Kono, both more than 60 km distant, to the south and east respectively.
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, 115 species have been recorded from this, as yet, poorly surveyed site. These include six species of global conservation concern. Picathartes gymnocephalus breeds; six active colonies comprising eight nests have been discovered. Thousands of Bubulcus ibis occur regularly. Non-bird biodiversity: The following primates species occur: Pan troglodytes verus (EN), Procolobus badius (LR/nt), Colobus polykomus (LR/nt), Cercocebus atys (LR/nt) and Cercopithecus diana (VU). Other mammals known from this site include Loxodonta africana cyclotis (EN), Hyemoschus aquaticus (LR/nt), Cephalophus niger (LR/nt) and C. maxwelli (LR/nt).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | hunting | nature conservation and research | urban/industrial/transport | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 10 | |
| Forest | 65 | |
| Savanna | 20 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Kangari Hills is a gazetted Non-hunting Forest Reserve. There is no proper management plan, but a few government forest guards monitor activities within the reserve boundaries, although with poor facilities and inadequate support. Threats to wildlife include illegal farming within the reserve, uncontrolled hunting, gold mining, logging and wood-cutting. Settlements have been established within the reserve by gold miners relatively recently. This site is also a source of medicinal herbs and spices used by the local inhabitants.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Shifting agriculture | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
Additional information
References: Allan (1990), Phillipson (1978), Thompson (1997a).