Source google.com.pk
Northwestern Congolian Lowland
The Northwest Congolian Lowland Forest ecoregion contains vast tracts of lowland forest, supporting core populations of the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and large numbers of forest elephant. Species richness and endemism are both high. Logging concessions and associated bushmeat hunting and agricultural expansion are the main threats to the habitats and species. There are some established protected areas, and the gazettement of new protected areas offers good potential for biodiversity conservation in the region.
There are an estimated 7,151 vascular plants found in Gabon, over 3,600 in the Central African Republic, 8,260 in Cameroon and 6,000 in Congo. A study in Gabon has shown that these forests are richer in plant species than those of West Africa. Reitsma found over 200 different species of plants in a 0.02 ha plot in Gabon, and Letouzey found 227 in a 0.01 ha plot in Cameroon. These are among the highest species/area counts for any vegetation the world.
Conservation initiatives over the last decade have resulted in a number of newly gazetted areas
. For example, the declaration of the Minkébé Forest Reserve (5,650 km2) marked a significant enhancement of the conservation area network in Gabon. In Congo, Odzala–Koukoua National Park (over 13,000 km2) has recently been extended. The Dzanga-Sangha forest in CAR is protected within the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park and the adjacent Dzanga-Sangha Faunal Reserve, totaling 4,347 km2, which is about eight percent of CAR's total closed forest estate. While the forest around Ngotto in CAR currently has no official protected area status, the Forêt de Ngotto (730 km2) is in the final stages of gazettement. In Cameroon, Dja, Boumba-Bek, Nki and Lac Lobéké protected areas cover an extensive area of lowland forest in the southern part of the country. One of the largest areas under protection is the Sangha Trinational protected area (10,650 km2), which combines the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (over 4,000 km2) in northern Republic of Congo, Dzanga-Sangha complex in the Central African Republic (CAR), and the Lobéké National Park in Cameroon.
Road and infrastructure developments increase interactions between humans and animals, to the usual detriment of the latter. One direct impact is the bushmeat trade, which primarily affects duikers (Cephalophus spp.) that can comprise up to 80 percent of the harvest in certain sites, and monkeys (Cercopithecus, Cercobcebus, Mandrillus, Colobus spp.). Larger antelopes, Tragelaphus spp., apes (Gorilla and Pan), buffalo and pigs (Potamochoerus, Hylochoerus) are also affected. Even top predators such as crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus), leopard (Panthera pardus) and golden cat (Felis aurata) are affected as their prey animals are hunted out.
The Northwest Congolian Lowland Forest ecoregion contains vast tracts of lowland forest, supporting core populations of the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and large numbers of forest elephant. Species richness and endemism are both high. Logging concessions and associated bushmeat hunting and agricultural expansion are the main threats to the habitats and species. There are some established protected areas, and the gazettement of new protected areas offers good potential for biodiversity conservation in the region.
The logging industries' role in this trade has been heavily debated. However, there is little doubt that they provide a market (the logging camps), a transport system (the logging trucks), and a means of access (the logging roads) that are invaluable to the bushmeat industry.
In addition to the bushmeat industry some species are also hunted for trophies, fetishes and the pet trade. Elephants are still extensively poached for their meat and ivory. The trade in African gray parrots (Psittacus erithacus) is well developed in some parts, especially in Cameroon where it threatens the survival of this species. Certain other species, such as crocodiles and lizards, face similar threats. Although professional safari hunting can be beneficial to conservation, this has rarely been the case in this ecoregion. Future threats to the forest include immigration of agricultural peoples into the logged forest areas.
Northwestern Congolian Lowland
The Northwest Congolian Lowland Forest ecoregion contains vast tracts of lowland forest, supporting core populations of the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and large numbers of forest elephant. Species richness and endemism are both high. Logging concessions and associated bushmeat hunting and agricultural expansion are the main threats to the habitats and species. There are some established protected areas, and the gazettement of new protected areas offers good potential for biodiversity conservation in the region.
There are an estimated 7,151 vascular plants found in Gabon, over 3,600 in the Central African Republic, 8,260 in Cameroon and 6,000 in Congo. A study in Gabon has shown that these forests are richer in plant species than those of West Africa. Reitsma found over 200 different species of plants in a 0.02 ha plot in Gabon, and Letouzey found 227 in a 0.01 ha plot in Cameroon. These are among the highest species/area counts for any vegetation the world.
Conservation initiatives over the last decade have resulted in a number of newly gazetted areas
. For example, the declaration of the Minkébé Forest Reserve (5,650 km2) marked a significant enhancement of the conservation area network in Gabon. In Congo, Odzala–Koukoua National Park (over 13,000 km2) has recently been extended. The Dzanga-Sangha forest in CAR is protected within the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park and the adjacent Dzanga-Sangha Faunal Reserve, totaling 4,347 km2, which is about eight percent of CAR's total closed forest estate. While the forest around Ngotto in CAR currently has no official protected area status, the Forêt de Ngotto (730 km2) is in the final stages of gazettement. In Cameroon, Dja, Boumba-Bek, Nki and Lac Lobéké protected areas cover an extensive area of lowland forest in the southern part of the country. One of the largest areas under protection is the Sangha Trinational protected area (10,650 km2), which combines the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (over 4,000 km2) in northern Republic of Congo, Dzanga-Sangha complex in the Central African Republic (CAR), and the Lobéké National Park in Cameroon.
Road and infrastructure developments increase interactions between humans and animals, to the usual detriment of the latter. One direct impact is the bushmeat trade, which primarily affects duikers (Cephalophus spp.) that can comprise up to 80 percent of the harvest in certain sites, and monkeys (Cercopithecus, Cercobcebus, Mandrillus, Colobus spp.). Larger antelopes, Tragelaphus spp., apes (Gorilla and Pan), buffalo and pigs (Potamochoerus, Hylochoerus) are also affected. Even top predators such as crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus), leopard (Panthera pardus) and golden cat (Felis aurata) are affected as their prey animals are hunted out.
The Northwest Congolian Lowland Forest ecoregion contains vast tracts of lowland forest, supporting core populations of the western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and large numbers of forest elephant. Species richness and endemism are both high. Logging concessions and associated bushmeat hunting and agricultural expansion are the main threats to the habitats and species. There are some established protected areas, and the gazettement of new protected areas offers good potential for biodiversity conservation in the region.
The logging industries' role in this trade has been heavily debated. However, there is little doubt that they provide a market (the logging camps), a transport system (the logging trucks), and a means of access (the logging roads) that are invaluable to the bushmeat industry.
In addition to the bushmeat industry some species are also hunted for trophies, fetishes and the pet trade. Elephants are still extensively poached for their meat and ivory. The trade in African gray parrots (Psittacus erithacus) is well developed in some parts, especially in Cameroon where it threatens the survival of this species. Certain other species, such as crocodiles and lizards, face similar threats. Although professional safari hunting can be beneficial to conservation, this has rarely been the case in this ecoregion. Future threats to the forest include immigration of agricultural peoples into the logged forest areas.
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