Key Biodiversity Areas identification in the Upper Guinea forest biodiversity hotspot

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Published: Aug 6, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o2717.2745-52

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O.M.L. Kouame
N. Jengre
M. Kobele
D. Knox
D.B. Ahon
J. Gbondo
J. Gamys
W. Egnankou
D. Siaffa
A. Okoni-Williams
M. Saliou

Abstract

Priority-setting approaches and tools are commons ways to support the rapid extinction of species and their habitats and the effective allocation of resources for their conservation. The Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) approach is a method for the identification of fine-scale priority areas for conservation. This process led bottom-up has been used in the Upper Guinea Forest Ecosystem of West Africa where human-induced changes have increased the extinction risk of several endemic and threatened species. The irreplaceability and vulnerability criteria commonly used in conservation planning have been used to identify key biodiversity areas in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Point locality data were compiled from scientific reports, papers published in scientific journals and museum records. The delineation was conducted following a series of decision rules. In most cases existing IBA polygons and protected areas boundaries were used. For the new sites, temporary boundaries have been drawn and will be confirmed with land-use data. Preliminary KBA data were reviewed by specialists during formal workshops. One hundred and fifty four KBA have been identified in the five countries with 202 globally threatened species. Currently 63% of the KBA are protected. Two AZE sites still exist in the region. This assessment is a first step and is driven from the best available data at the time. There is a need to refine it with recent biodiversity surveys to assist decision-makers in achieving their conservation management goals.

Article Details

Issue
Vol 4, No 8 (2012)
Section
Communications

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Author Biographies

O.M.L. Kouame

Ode Marie-Louise Kouame is currently working as an independent consultant. She was previously the West Africa Coordinator with Conservation International to coordinate the identification of KBA in the upper guinea forest. She worked on several CEPF and BirdLife International projects on the inventory of IBA in Cote d’Ivoire. She finalized her PhD on wetland Ecology and it’s expected to be defended in September.

N. Jengre

Nicholas Jengre holds an MPhil degree in environmental science, with strong background in forestry, natural resources management and biodiversity conservation. He is currently the Regional Research and Evaluation Coordinator for Rainforest Alliance West African Office in Ghana. Nicholas has deep experience in carbon stocks sampling in both terrestrial and aquatic landscapes.

M. Kobele

Mamady Kobele specializes in environmental management and climate change. He was a Chevening Scholar at the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. In Guinea he served as a team leader at the environmental NGO Guinee Ecologie where he is currently the Executive Director.

D. Knox

David Knox is currently a management consultant with the Boston Consulting Group. Prior to BCG, he spent 7 years with Conservation International in South Africa. David holds a MBA from The Wharton School, a MSc in Conservation Biology from the University of Cape Town and a BS from the University of North Carolina.

D.B. Ahon

Dr. Dibie Bernard Ahon is Ornithologist and Animal Biological Lecturer at the University of Daloa, Cote d’Ivoire_West Africa. He also collaborate with the NGO SOS Forets (BirdLife International’s affiliate of Cote d’Ivoire) as the IBA’s Officer .

J. Gbondo

John Gbondo has recently relocated in the USA. He served as Botanist at the Department of Biological Sciences FBC- USL (Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone). He was also an Executive Secretary at Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL) and collaborated on IBA and KBA projects. John hold a B.Sc Hons in Botany.

J. Gamys

Joel Gamys is Conservation Manager for Conservation International Liberia. In addition to his role to contribute to local partners’ capacity strengthening in conservation project planning and implementation, he is involved in biodiversity field research activities in Liberia. He is also leading land use planning activities in Northern Nimba Conservation Area.

W. Egnankou

Dr. Egnankou Wadja Mathieu is a botanist, wetland expert and lecturer at the University of Cocody, Cote d’Ivoire. He is also the founder and president of the NGO SOS-FORETS. He is a Goldman Environmental prize winner.

D. Siaffa

Daniel Siaffa was the former executive director of the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL)

A. Okoni-Williams

Arnold Okoni-Williams is currently a conservation ecologist and a lecturer of the Biological Sciences Department of the University of Sierra Leone. For several years, he worked as a biodiversity conservation officer for the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL). He is currently undertaking a PhD study on vegetation, carbon and nutrient cycling in the bush fallow systems and the potential benefits to farming communities and the environment in Sierra Leone.

M. Saliou

Mamadou Saliou is the President of the NGO Guinee-Ecologie. He coordinated a number of rapid assessment program with Conservation International as well as conservation activities on IBA in Guinea with BirdLife International.