View source for Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest

[[West Africa]] > [[Sierra Leone]] > [[Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest]]

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__TOC__
= Summary =

<div style='float: right'>{{#display_map: height=190px | width=300px | scrollzoom=off | zoom=5 | layers=OpenStreetMap,OpenTopoMap|7.770640, -12.549755~[[Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest]]~''Pan troglodytes verus''}}</div>
* Western chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes verus'') are present in Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest.
* The population size is unknown.
* The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
* The site has a total size of 50 km².
* Key threats to chimpanzees are habitat destruction and fragmentation, leading to chimpanzee-human conflict.
* Conservation activities have focused on education, livelihood support, and biomonitoring.





[[File: Swamp_on_the_edge_of_Yelleh_forest.JPG | 300px | thumb| none |Swamp on the edge of Yelleh forest © TCP]]
= Site characteristics =

The Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest (YSF) and Mai-Mokombo Forest (MMF) are in the South East of Moyamba District, Sierra Leone. The sites are located on the shores of the Bagru creek and the Sherbro river. The area includes five small settlements: Mobondah, Yelleh, Sorbengi, Mai, and Mokombo. The two forest blocks are separated by an area of land confirmed through research as a corridor for the movement of chimpanzees and other wildlife known to exist in the area. The corridor area and the core area of the two forests comprise a matrix of vegetation types and features. Vegetation types in the area include: mangroves, primary and secondary growth forest, swamps, grassy savannah, wild oil palm and agricultural lands. The two forests cover approximately 3 sq.km and the swamp/mangrove ecosystems approximately 50 sq.km. The mangroves are part of the Marine Protected Area Shebro River Estuary. The mangroves are categorised among one of the Marine Protected Areas - Shebro River Estuary in Sierra Leone.

'''Table 1. Basic site information for Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="Site_characteristics-table"
|Species
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
|-
|Area
|50 km²
|-
|Coordinates
|Lat: 7.770640 , Lon:  -12.549755
|-
|Type of site
|Non-protected area (Community Forest)
|-
|Habitat types
|Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, Subtropical/tropical swamp forest, Savanna
|-
|Type of governance
|
|}

[[Types of sites]] [[Governance types]] [[Habitat types]] 
[[File: Mobonda_Mangroves.JPG | 300px | thumb| none |Mobonda mangroves © TCP]]
= Ape status =

Conservation activities involving the use of camera traps and reconnaissance walks have revealed and confirmed evidence of the presence of chimpanzee thriving at the sites through direct capture on camera traps in three successive years: 2016, 2018 and 2019, and indirect signs (nests, trail, feeding remain on fruits and oil palm tops) encountered during the camera trap survey periods (Garriga & Kanneh 2022). Density and abundance estimates were not provided for all three studies. Reported so far are: capture locations of chimpanzees on camera traps and the identification of chimpanzee individuals based on facial and body features as well as individual characteristics such as injuries, and estimated their number, gender. On one event of camera capture of the species, the maximum numbers reported of different individuals were 8 individuals (2016), 5 individuals (2018) and 4 individuals (2019) (Garriga & Kanneh 2022).

'''Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="Ape_status-table"
!Species
!Year
!Occurrence
!Encounter or vistation rate (nests/km; ind/day)
!Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI)
!Abundance estimate (95% CI)
!Survey area
!Sampling method
!Analytical framework
!Source
!Comments
!A.P.E.S. database ID
|-
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
|2016
|
|
|
|
|YSF and MMF
|Camera trap, Reconnaissance walk
|
|Garriga 2016, 2018 and 2019
|Camera trap and reconnaissance walks
|
|-
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
|2018
|
|
|
|
|YSF and MMF
|Camera trap, Reconnaissance walk
|
|Garriga 2016, 2018 and 2019
|Camera trap and reconnaissance walks
|
|-
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
|2019
|
|
|
|
|YSF and MMF
|Camera trap, Reconnaissance walk
|
|Garriga 2016, 2018 and 2019
|Camera trap and reconnaissance walks
|
|}

[[Sampling methods]] [[Analytical frameworks]] 

= Threats =

Threats to the conservation of the species are limited at this site. The main threat is the reduction and disappearance of suitable habitats for their movements and survival mainly due to deforestation from slash and burn agriculture for cassava, rice and groundnut cultivation in the area. This is gradually leaving the chimpanzee population vulnerable to human conflicts, as the remaining patch of chimpanzee habitats overlaps with human settlements and cultivated areas thereby resulting in first crop raiding and then human wildlife conflict where chimpanzees have been killed in the process (Garriga & Kanneh 2022).

'''Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="Threats-table"
!Category
!Specific threats
!Threat level
!Description
!Year of threat
|-
|5 Biological resource use
|5.1.5 Persecution/human wildlife conflict
|Present (unknown severity)
|Human-chimpanzee conflict due to habitat fragmentation, destruction and reduction (Garriga & Kanneh 2022).
|Ongoing (2022)
|}

[[Threats]] 

= Conservation activities =



'''Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="Conservation_activities-table"
!Category
!Specific activity
!Description
!Implementing organization(s)
!Year of activity
|-
|2 Counter-wildlife crime
|2.11 Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g., SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of patrols
|Community bio-monitoring and forest patrols implemented by Tacugama (Garriga & Kanneh 2022).
|
|2018- 2020
|-
|4 Education & awareness
|4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use
|Introduction of the Tacugama Kids Environmental Education Program (TKEEP) in two schools and regular training community bio-monitors (Garriga & Kanneh 2022).
|
|2018- 2020
|-
|7 Economic & other incentives
|7.2 Provide non-monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g., better education, infrastructure development)
|Livelihood support projects organized by Tacugama, including  agricultural seed support (rice and groundnuts) and sustainable oyster farming (Garriga & Kanneh 2022).
|
|2018- 2020
|-
|8 Permanent presence
|8.1 Run research project and ensure permanent human presence at site
|Research through camera trapping and reconnaissance walks implemented by Tacugama (Garriga & Kanneh 2022).
|
|2018- 2020
|}

[[Conservation activities]] 

= Challenges =

Addressing the human-chimpanzee conflict is a serious challenge at this site with limited livelihood intervention for the local population at the conservation area. At present there is no ongoing conservation project to complement previous conservation efforts and promote continuity. Establishment and strengthening of local bylaws as the forest area is owned by the surrounding communities (Garriga & Kanneh 2022).

'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="Challenges-table"
!Challenges
!Specific challenges
!Source
!Year(s)
|-
|2 Resources and capacity
|2.3 General lack of funding
|Garriga & Kanneh 2022
|
|-
|3 Engaged community
|3.1 General lack of community engagement or support
|Garriga & Kanneh 2022
|
|}

[[Challenges]] 

= Enablers =



'''Table 6. Enablers reported for Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="enabler-table"
!Enablers
!Specific enablers
!Source
!Year(s)
|-
|1 Site management
|
|
|
|-
|2 Resources and capacity
|
|
|
|-
|3 Engaged community
|
|
|
|-
|4 Institutional support
|
|
|
|-
|5 Ecological context
|
|
|
|-
|6 Safety and stability
|
|
|
|}

[[Enablers]] 

= Research activities =

Camera trap survey in 2016, 2018 and 2019; biomonitoring initiated in 2018 and presently on hold due to lack of funds. Community needs assessment (compilation of community profile) through questionnaire surveys in 2016 and 2018 (Garriga & Kanneh 2022).

[[File: Mobonda_Community_forest_chimps.JPG | 300px | thumb| none | © TCP]]
= Documented behaviours =

High frequency of chimpanzees nesting on palm trees which is not common to other places. This is probably due to the widespread presence of palm trees within the landscape in Sierra Leone and not the same case in other parts of the country (Garriga 2019).

'''Table 7. Behaviours documented for Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="behaviours-table"
!Category
!Behavior
!Observation type
!Prevalence
!Observation dates
!Source
!Habituation
!Species
!Comment
|-
|
|Nesting on palm trees
|
|
|
|Garriga 2019
|
|
|
|}

[[Behaviours]] 

= Exposure to climate change impacts =





= External links =

[https://www.tacugama.com/ Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary]

= References =

Garriga, R. & Kanneh, A. (2022, October 20-21). Sierra Leone. Regional workshop on IUCN APES wiki, Monrovia, Liberia.

Garriga R.M., 2019. Mobondah community conservation project Moyamba District, Sierra Leone camera trap surveys. Report, Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Freetown Sierra Leone, 27p.



'''Page created by: '''Rosa M. Garriga & Ambrose Bockarie Kanneh''' Date:''' 2022-12-19