Misahöhe Forest Reserve (6917)
Togo, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Misahöhe Forest Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: 6.9500, Longitude: 0.5833
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 250 to 740
Area of KBA (km2): 12.25267
Protected area coverage (%): 67.11
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Situated in the Togo mountains, north-west of the town of Kpalimé, adjoining the border with Ghana, the reserve consists of steep hillsides supporting semi-deciduous forest dominated by Antiaris africana and Chlorophora excelsa. Also included is the Forêt Classée de Damétui, just to the north-east of Misahöhe. Other tree species include Albizia adianthifolia, A. zygia, Alstonia congensis, Bosqueia angolensis, Cola cordifolia, Dialium guineense, Harungana paniculata, Khaya grandiflora, Macaranga spinosa, Malacantha alnifolia, Pycnanthus angolensis, Terminalia superba, Trichilia africana, Triplochiton scleroxylon and Uapaca heudelotii. There are a number of settlements within the site which is also bisected by a road linking Kpalimé with Dafo in Ghana. The area is of historical interest as the site of a field station of the early German colonists, and a German cemetery remains.
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 2 for key species. In addition, Circus macrourus has been recorded, as have two species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome; see Table 2. Misahöhe is the type-locality of Phyllastrephus baumanni and of Camaroptera chloronota. It is the only site in Togo from which many forest species have been recorded. Non-bird biodiversity: The site is the type-locality of the tree-frog Hyperolius baumanni.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include deforestation, encroachment by small farms, fire and firewood collecting.