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* Chimpanzees were mainly threatened by hunting.
* Chimpanzees were mainly threatened by hunting.
* Conservation activities have focused on patrolling and controlling poaching.
* Conservation activities have focused on patrolling and controlling poaching.




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= Site characteristics =
= Site characteristics =


Atewa Range Forest Reserve is located in southeastern Ghana. The reserve is on a mountain range, which peaks at 842 m a.s.l., (Kusimi 2015). Atewa is unique because of its Upland Evergreen forest, which is an important reservoir of biodiversity. It was established as a national forest reserve in 1926. The site was also designated as a Special Biological Protection Area in 1994, a Hill Sanctuary in 1995, a Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs) in 1999, and an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International in 2001 (RAP 2007). In 2021, a new frog species was discovered in the site; it was given the common name Atewa Slippery frog, ''Conraua sagyimase'' ([https://ghana.arocha.org/projects/protecting-atewa-forest/ A Rocha Ghana]).
Atewa Range Forest Reserve is located in southeastern Ghana. The reserve is on a mountain range, which peaks at 842 m a.s.l., ([[#R00028|Kusimi 2015]]). Atewa is unique because of its Upland Evergreen forest, which is an important reservoir of biodiversity. It was established as a national forest reserve in 1926. The site was also designated as a Special Biological Protection Area in 1994, a Hill Sanctuary in 1995, a Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs) in 1999, and an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International in 2001 ([[#R00031|RAP 2007]]). In 2021, a new frog species was discovered in the site; it was given the common name Atewa Slippery frog, ''Conraua sagyimase'' ([https://ghana.arocha.org/projects/protecting-atewa-forest/ A Rocha Ghana]).


'''Table 1. Basic site information for Atewa Range Forest Reserve'''
'''Table 1. Basic site information for Atewa Range Forest Reserve'''
Line 48: Line 44:
= Ape status =
= Ape status =


No chimpanzees have been found in the reserve. An old chief hunter reported that he has not seen a chimpanzee in the forest since he started hunting over 40 years ago (Ofori-Amanfo pers. comm. 2023). During a 2006 Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) survey of the site, most nearby communities said that chimpanzees were not present; this was in line with the RAP’s transect and recce survey results, which found no evidence of chimpanzees (McCullough et al. 2007).
No chimpanzees have been found in the reserve. An old chief hunter reported that he has not seen a chimpanzee in the forest since he started hunting over 40 years ago (Ofori-Amanfo pers. comm. 2023). During a 2006 Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) survey of the site, most nearby communities said that chimpanzees were not present; this was in line with the RAP’s transect and recce survey results, which found no evidence of chimpanzees ([[#R00029|McCullough et al. 2007]]).


'''Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve'''
'''Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve'''
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|Line transects & recces
|Line transects & recces
|
|
|McCullough et al. 2007
|[[#R00029|McCullough et al. 2007]]
|
|
|
|
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= Threats =
= Threats =


Chimpanzees were mainly threatened by the high levels of uncontrolled hunting (Ofori-Amanfo pers. comm. 2023).  A study by Kusimi 2015 also found that land cover (especially forest cover) in the reserve declined, while land use increased between 1986 and 2013. Parts of the forest degraded into bushes/shrubs and the peripheral landscape was more affected due to intense human activities such as farming and illegal logging. Other activities such as expansion of settlements and illegal gold mining have also contributed to the negative impacts on the forest cover (Kusimi 2015). Atewa Forest is one of three possible sites where the government of Ghana is seeking to mine bauxite to develop an integrated bauxite-aluminium industry; up to this point it has not been exploited but the risk still exists (Purwins 2022).
Chimpanzees were mainly threatened by the high levels of uncontrolled hunting (Ofori-Amanfo pers. comm. 2023).  A study by [[#R00028|Kusimi 2015]] also found that land cover (especially forest cover) in the reserve declined, while land use increased between 1986 and 2013. Parts of the forest degraded into bushes/shrubs and the peripheral landscape was more affected due to intense human activities such as farming and illegal logging. Other activities such as expansion of settlements and illegal gold mining have also contributed to the negative impacts on the forest cover ([[#R00028|Kusimi 2015]]). Atewa Forest is one of three possible sites where the government of Ghana is seeking to mine bauxite to develop an integrated bauxite-aluminium industry; up to this point it has not been exploited but the risk still exists ([[#R00030|Purwins 2022]]).


'''Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve'''
'''Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve'''
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!Description
!Description
!Year of threat
!Year of threat
|-
|2 Agriculture & aquaculture
|2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops
|Low (up to 30% of population affected)
|Farmers encroach into the Forest Reserve for illegal subsistence farming ([[#R00028|Kusimi 2015]], Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
|2014-Ongoing (2023)
|-
|3 Energy production & mining
|3.2 Mining & quarrying
|High (more than 70% of population affected)
|Illegal mining can be found in the Forest Reserve, specifically gold mining ([[#R00028|Kusimi 2015]], Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
|2014-Ongoing (2023)
|-
|3 Energy production & mining
|3.2 Mining & quarrying
|Low (up to 30% of population affected)
|In June 2019, in the absence of an environmental impact assessment, the Ghanaian authorities started clearing access roads to Atewa Forest to allow test-drilling for bauxite ([[#R01992|IUCN Congress 2020]]). Bauxite deposits have been assessed several other times at the site by prospective companies, but bauxite mining has been so far met with strong opposition ([[#R00026|Lindsell et al. 2019]]). Although the threat is low because mining has not proceeded, the potential impacts are high.
|2019-Ongoing (2023)
|-
|-
|5 Biological resource use
|5 Biological resource use
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|5.3 Logging & wood harvesting
|5.3 Logging & wood harvesting
|High (more than 70% of population affected)
|High (more than 70% of population affected)
|Legal logging was permitted between 1966 and 1998 (Lindsell et al. 2019).
|Legal logging was permitted between 1966 and 1998 ([[#R00026|Lindsell et al. 2019]]).
|1966-1998
|1966-1998
|-
|-
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|5.3 Logging & wood harvesting
|5.3 Logging & wood harvesting
|Medium (30-70% of population affected)
|Medium (30-70% of population affected)
|Illegal logging still goes on in the Reserve, even after the 2003 management plan made no provisions for timber harvesting (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023, Lindsell et al. 2019).
|Illegal logging still goes on in the Reserve, even after the 2003 management plan made no provisions for timber harvesting (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023, [[#R00026|Lindsell et al. 2019]]).
|2003-Ongoing (2023)
|2003-Ongoing (2023)
|-
|2 Agriculture & aquaculture
|2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops
|Low (up to 30% of population affected)
|Farmers encroach into the Forest Reserve for illegal subsistence farming (Kusimi 2015, Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
|2014-Ongoing (2023)
|-
|3 Energy production & mining
|3.2 Mining & quarrying
|High (more than 70% of population affected)
|Illegal mining can be found in the Forest Reserve, specifically gold mining (Kusimi 2015, Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
|2014-Ongoing (2023)
|-
|-
|7 Natural system modifications
|7 Natural system modifications
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|The Forest Reserve has a long boundary, where periodic fires occur due to farming practices around the reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
|The Forest Reserve has a long boundary, where periodic fires occur due to farming practices around the reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023).
|2016-Ongoing (2023)
|2016-Ongoing (2023)
|-
|3 Energy production & mining
|3.2 Mining & quarrying
|Low (up to 30% of population affected)
|In June 2019, in the absence of an environmental impact assessment, the Ghanaian authorities started clearing access roads to Atewa Forest to allow test-drilling for bauxite ([https://www.iucncongress2020.org/motion/103 IUCN Congress 2020]). Bauxite deposits have been assessed several other times at the site by prospective companies, but bauxite mining has been so far met with strong opposition (Lindsell et al. 2019). Although the threat is low because mining has not proceeded, the potential impacts are high.
|2019-Ongoing (2023)
|}
|}


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= Conservation activities =
= Conservation activities =


Some organisations are advocating that the Atewa Forest Reserve should be upgraded to National Park status, including the NGO Ghana A Rocha and the IUCN (Lindsell et al. 2019).
Some organisations are advocating that the Atewa Forest Reserve should be upgraded to National Park status, including the NGO Ghana A Rocha and the IUCN ([[#R00026|Lindsell et al. 2019]]).


'''Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve'''
'''Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve'''
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|The site has been a Forest Reserve since 1926.
|The site has been a Forest Reserve since 1926.
|
|
|1926-Ongoing (2023)
|1926-Ongoing (2026)
|-
|-
|7 Economic & other incentives
|7 Economic & other incentives
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= Challenges =
= Challenges =


The main challenges to conservation include lack of vigorous law Enforcement activities in the Forest Reserve, lack of logistics and low staff (Kusimi 2015).
The main challenges to conservation include lack of vigorous law Enforcement activities in the Forest Reserve, lack of logistics and low staff ([[#R00028|Kusimi 2015]]).


'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve'''
'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve'''
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!Source
!Source
!Year(s)
!Year(s)
|-
|4 Institutional support
|4.1 Lack of law enforcement
|Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023, Kusimi 2015
|
|-
|-
|1 Site management
|1 Site management
|1.2 Need for improved coordination
|1.2 Need for improved coordination
|Kusimi 2015
|[[#R00028|Kusimi 2015]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2 Resources and capacity
|2 Resources and capacity
|2.2 Lack of staff
|2.2 Lack of staff
|Kusimi 2015
|[[#R00028|Kusimi 2015]]
|
|-
|4 Institutional support
|4.1 Lack of law enforcement
|Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023, [[#R00028|Kusimi 2015]]
|
|
|}
|}
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= Exposure to climate change impacts =
= Exposure to climate change impacts =


As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, Kiribou et al. (2024) extracted climate data and data on projected extreme climate impact events for the site. Climatological characteristics were derived from observation-based climate data provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP, www.isimip.org). Parameters were calculated as the average across each 30-year period. For 1981-2010, the EWEMBI dataset from ISIMIP2a was used. For the two future periods (2021-2050 and 2071-2099) ISIMIP2b climate data based on four CMIP5 global climate models were used. For future projections, two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) were used. RCP 2.6 is a scenario with strong mitigation measures in which global temperatures would likely rise below 2°C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3°C by 2100. For the number of days with heavy precipitation events, the 98th percentile of all precipitation days (>1mm/d) was calculated for the 1979-2013 reference period as a threshold for a heavy precipitation event. Then, for each year, the number of days above that threshold was derived. The figures on temperature and precipitation anomaly show the deviation from the mean temperature and mean precipitation for the 1979-2013 reference period.
As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, [[#R00027|Kiribou et al. (2024)]] extracted climate data and data on projected extreme climate impact events for the site. Climatological characteristics were derived from observation-based climate data provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP, www.isimip.org). Parameters were calculated as the average across each 30-year period. For 1981-2010, the EWEMBI dataset from ISIMIP2a was used. For the two future periods (2021-2050 and 2071-2099) ISIMIP2b climate data based on four CMIP5 global climate models were used. For future projections, two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) were used. RCP 2.6 is a scenario with strong mitigation measures in which global temperatures would likely rise below 2°C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3°C by 2100. For the number of days with heavy precipitation events, the 98th percentile of all precipitation days (>1mm/d) was calculated for the 1979-2013 reference period as a threshold for a heavy precipitation event. Then, for each year, the number of days above that threshold was derived. The figures on temperature and precipitation anomaly show the deviation from the mean temperature and mean precipitation for the 1979-2013 reference period.


The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated (Kiribou et al. 2024).
The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated ([[#R00027|Kiribou et al. 2024]]).


'''Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Atewa Range Forest Reserve'''
'''Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Atewa Range Forest Reserve'''
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= References =
= References =


McCullough, J., Alonso, L. E., Naskrecki, P., Wright, H. E., & Osei-Owusu, Y. (2007). A rapid biological assessment of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, eastern Ghana. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment, 47, 1-191.
<span id="R00026"></span>Lindsell, J., Agyei, R., Bosu, D., Decher, J., Hawthorne, W., Marshall, C., Ofori-Boateng, C., & Rödel, M.-O. (2019). The biodiversity of Atewa Forest. Technical report to A Rocha, January 2019. https://ghana.arocha.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2019/11/Biodiversity-of-Atewa-A-Rocha.pdf
 
<span id="R00027"></span>Kiribou, R., Tehoda, P., Chukwu, O., Bempah, G., Kühl, H. S., Ferreira, J., …, & Heinicke, S. (2024). Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts. ''PLOS Climate'', 3(2), e0000345. [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345 doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345]


Kusimi, J. M. (2015). Characterizing land disturbance in Atewa range forest reserve and buffer zone. Land Use Policy, 49, 471-482.
<span id="R00028"></span>Kusimi, J. M. (2015). Characterizing land disturbance in Atewa Range Forest Reserve and Buffer Zone. ''Land Use Policy'', 49, 471-482. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.08.020 doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.08.020]


Kiribou, R., Tehoda, P., Chukwu, O., Bempah, G., Kühl, H. S., Ferreira, J., ... & Heinicke, S. (2024). Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts. PLOS Climate, 3(2), e0000345.
<span id="R00029"></span>McCullough, J., Alonso, L. E., Naskrecki, P., Wright, H. E., & Osei-Owusu, Y. (2007). A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Eastern Ghana. Conservation International. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 47.


Rapid Assessment Program. (2007). [https://www.conservation.org/docs/default-source/publication-pdfs/ci_atewa_ghana_booklet#:~:text=The%20Atewa%20Range%20Forest%20Reserve%20is%20part%20of%20a%20ecosystem,botanists%20as%20Upland%20Evergreen%20forest. Biodiversity in the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Ghana]. Conservation International, Arlington, VA, USA.
<span id="R00030"></span>Purwins, S. (2022). Bauxite mining at Atewa Forest Reserve, Ghana: A political ecology of a conservation-exploitation conflict. GeoJournal, 87(2), 1085–1097. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-020-10303-3 doi:10.1007/s10708-020-10303-3]


Purwins, S. (2022). Bauxite mining at Atewa Forest Reserve, Ghana: a political ecology of a conservation-exploitation conflict. GeoJournal, 87(2), 1085-1097.
<span id="R00031"></span>Rapid Assessment Program. (2007). Biodiversity in the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Ghana. Conservation International. https://www.conservation.org/docs/default-source/publication-pdfs/ci_atewa_ghana_booklet


J. Lindsell, R. Agyei, D. Bosu, J. Decher, W. Hawthorne, C. Marshall, C. Ofori-Boateng, M.-.O. Rodel (2019). The Biodiversity of Atewa Forest. Technical Report to A Rocha, January 2019. Online: https://ghana.arocha.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2019/11/Biodiversity-of-Atewa-A-Rocha.pdf
<span id="R01992"></span>IUCN Congress 2020. https://www.iucncongress2020.org/motion/103






'''Page created by: '''Richard Ofori-Amanfo & APES Atlas Team''' Date:''' 2023-11-10
'''Page created by: '''Richard Ofori-Amanfo & APES Atlas Team''' Date:''' 2023-11-10

Latest revision as of 17:52, 15 October 2026

West Africa > Ghana > Atewa Range Forest Reserve

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Summary

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  • Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are no longer present in Atewa Range Forest Reserve.
  • Chimpanzees have been extirpated from the site.
  • The site has a total size of 258 km².
  • Chimpanzees were mainly threatened by hunting.
  • Conservation activities have focused on patrolling and controlling poaching.


Site characteristics

Atewa Range Forest Reserve is located in southeastern Ghana. The reserve is on a mountain range, which peaks at 842 m a.s.l., (Kusimi 2015). Atewa is unique because of its Upland Evergreen forest, which is an important reservoir of biodiversity. It was established as a national forest reserve in 1926. The site was also designated as a Special Biological Protection Area in 1994, a Hill Sanctuary in 1995, a Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs) in 1999, and an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International in 2001 (RAP 2007). In 2021, a new frog species was discovered in the site; it was given the common name Atewa Slippery frog, Conraua sagyimase (A Rocha Ghana).

Table 1. Basic site information for Atewa Range Forest Reserve

Species Pan troglodytes verus
Area 258 km²
Coordinates Lat: 6.170532 , Lon: -0.600267
Type of site Protected area (Forest Reserve)
Habitat types Subtropical/tropical moist montane forest
Type of governance

Types of sites Governance types Habitat types

Ape status

No chimpanzees have been found in the reserve. An old chief hunter reported that he has not seen a chimpanzee in the forest since he started hunting over 40 years ago (Ofori-Amanfo pers. comm. 2023). During a 2006 Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) survey of the site, most nearby communities said that chimpanzees were not present; this was in line with the RAP’s transect and recce survey results, which found no evidence of chimpanzees (McCullough et al. 2007).

Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve

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 2006 0.0 Atewa Range Forest Reserve Line transects & recces McCullough et al. 2007
Pan troglodytes verus 1980-2023 0.0 Atewa Range Forest Reserve Unknown Ofori-Amanfo pers. comm. 2023

Sampling methods Analytical frameworks

Threats

Chimpanzees were mainly threatened by the high levels of uncontrolled hunting (Ofori-Amanfo pers. comm. 2023). A study by Kusimi 2015 also found that land cover (especially forest cover) in the reserve declined, while land use increased between 1986 and 2013. Parts of the forest degraded into bushes/shrubs and the peripheral landscape was more affected due to intense human activities such as farming and illegal logging. Other activities such as expansion of settlements and illegal gold mining have also contributed to the negative impacts on the forest cover (Kusimi 2015). Atewa Forest is one of three possible sites where the government of Ghana is seeking to mine bauxite to develop an integrated bauxite-aluminium industry; up to this point it has not been exploited but the risk still exists (Purwins 2022).

Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve

Category Specific threats Threat level Description Year of threat
2 Agriculture & aquaculture 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops Low (up to 30% of population affected) Farmers encroach into the Forest Reserve for illegal subsistence farming (Kusimi 2015, Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). 2014-Ongoing (2023)
3 Energy production & mining 3.2 Mining & quarrying High (more than 70% of population affected) Illegal mining can be found in the Forest Reserve, specifically gold mining (Kusimi 2015, Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). 2014-Ongoing (2023)
3 Energy production & mining 3.2 Mining & quarrying Low (up to 30% of population affected) In June 2019, in the absence of an environmental impact assessment, the Ghanaian authorities started clearing access roads to Atewa Forest to allow test-drilling for bauxite (IUCN Congress 2020). Bauxite deposits have been assessed several other times at the site by prospective companies, but bauxite mining has been so far met with strong opposition (Lindsell et al. 2019). Although the threat is low because mining has not proceeded, the potential impacts are high. 2019-Ongoing (2023)
5 Biological resource use 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals High (more than 70% of population affected) Poaching of wild animals in the Forest is common (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). 1926-Ongoing (2023)
5 Biological resource use 5.2 Gathering terrestrial plants High (more than 70% of population affected) The communities around the Forest Reserve enter and collect non timber forest products for domestic and commercial purposes (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). 1926-Ongoing (2023)
5 Biological resource use 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting High (more than 70% of population affected) Legal logging was permitted between 1966 and 1998 (Lindsell et al. 2019). 1966-1998
5 Biological resource use 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting Medium (30-70% of population affected) Illegal logging still goes on in the Reserve, even after the 2003 management plan made no provisions for timber harvesting (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023, Lindsell et al. 2019). 2003-Ongoing (2023)
7 Natural system modifications 7.1 Fire & fire suppression Medium (30-70% of population affected) The Forest Reserve has a long boundary, where periodic fires occur due to farming practices around the reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). 2016-Ongoing (2023)

Threats

Conservation activities

Some organisations are advocating that the Atewa Forest Reserve should be upgraded to National Park status, including the NGO Ghana A Rocha and the IUCN (Lindsell et al. 2019).

Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve

Category Specific activity Description Implementing organization(s) Year of activity
2 Counter-wildlife crime 2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols The Forestry Commission used to carry out patrols in the Forest and has increased the number of Rapid Response Teams (RRT) to undertake regular patrols in important Forest Reserves (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). 1926-Ongoing (2023)
2 Counter-wildlife crime 2.5 Inspect bushmeat markets for ape species The Forestry Commission carries out checks on illegal trade in bush meat (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Ongoing (2023)
2 Counter-wildlife crime 2.6 Regularly de-activate/remove ground snares All snares seen in the Reserve by patrol teams and researchers are removed (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Ongoing (2023)
2 Counter-wildlife crime 2.7 Provide better equipment (e.g., guns) to anti-poaching ranger patrols New and better weapons have been acquired for the RRT (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). 2023
4 Education & awareness 4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use NGOs such as A Rocha Ghana, Conservation International etc. undertake conservation education around the Forest Reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Ongoing (2023)
4 Education & awareness 4.2 Involve local community in ape research and conservation management Local communities are involved in research activities in the Forest Reserve (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Ongoing (2023)
5 Protection & restoration 5.2 Legally protect ape habitat The site has been a Forest Reserve since 1926. 1926-Ongoing (2026)
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) Communities are provided livelihood support programmes (implemented by A Rocha Ghana) to increase their support for conservation (Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023). Ongoing (2023)

Conservation activities

Challenges

The main challenges to conservation include lack of vigorous law Enforcement activities in the Forest Reserve, lack of logistics and low staff (Kusimi 2015).

Table 5. Challenges reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve

Challenges Specific challenges Source Year(s)
1 Site management 1.2 Need for improved coordination Kusimi 2015
2 Resources and capacity 2.2 Lack of staff Kusimi 2015
4 Institutional support 4.1 Lack of law enforcement Ofori-Amanfo pers. obs. 2023, Kusimi 2015

Challenges

Enablers

Table 6. Enablers reported for Atewa Range Forest Reserve

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

Studies have been carried out in the Forest Reserve on its biodiversity since 2003, for management plans, biodiversity assessments and threat assessments.


Documented behaviours

Table 7. Behaviours documented for Atewa Range Forest Reserve

Category Behavior Observation type Prevalence Observation dates Source Habituation Species Comment
Not reported

Behaviours

Exposure to climate change impacts

As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, Kiribou et al. (2024) extracted climate data and data on projected extreme climate impact events for the site. Climatological characteristics were derived from observation-based climate data provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP, www.isimip.org). Parameters were calculated as the average across each 30-year period. For 1981-2010, the EWEMBI dataset from ISIMIP2a was used. For the two future periods (2021-2050 and 2071-2099) ISIMIP2b climate data based on four CMIP5 global climate models were used. For future projections, two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) were used. RCP 2.6 is a scenario with strong mitigation measures in which global temperatures would likely rise below 2°C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3°C by 2100. For the number of days with heavy precipitation events, the 98th percentile of all precipitation days (>1mm/d) was calculated for the 1979-2013 reference period as a threshold for a heavy precipitation event. Then, for each year, the number of days above that threshold was derived. The figures on temperature and precipitation anomaly show the deviation from the mean temperature and mean precipitation for the 1979-2013 reference period.

The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated (Kiribou et al. 2024).

Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Atewa Range Forest Reserve

Value 1981-2010 2021-2050, RCP 2.6 2021-2050, RCP 6.0 2071-2099, RCP 2.6 2071-2099, RCP 6.0
Mean temperature [°C] 26.6 27.8 27.5 27.9 29.1
Annual precipitation [mm] 1401 1360 1420 1391 1427
Max no. consecutive dry days (per year) 23.7 28.4 30.8 29.8 30.7
No. days with heavy precipitation (per year) 6.3 8.1 7.4 7.4 9.7


Table 9. Projected exposure of apes to extreme climate impact events in Atewa Range Forest Reserve

Type No. of years with event (2021-2050, RCP 2.6) % of site exposed (2021-2050, RCP 2.6) No. of years with event (2021-2050, RCP 6.0) % of site exposed (2021-2050, RCP 6.0) No. of years with event (2070-2099, RCP 2.6) % of site exposed (2070-2099, RCP 2.6) No. of years with event (2070-2099, RCP 6.0) % of site exposed (2070-2099, RCP 6.0)
Crop failure 2.5 8.4 2 4.45 3 8.4 4 8.4
Drought 1.5 50 1 75 0.25 25 0.5 50
Heatwave 6.5 100 5.5 100 2 50 6 100
River flood 0.25 0 0.5 0 1 0 1.5 0.64
Tropical cyclone 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wildfire 30 0.37 30 0.36 29 0.37 29 0.4


  • Precipitation anomaly in Atewa Range Forest Reserve
  • Temperature anomaly in Atewa Range Forest Reserve

External links

Ghana A Rocha

References

Lindsell, J., Agyei, R., Bosu, D., Decher, J., Hawthorne, W., Marshall, C., Ofori-Boateng, C., & Rödel, M.-O. (2019). The biodiversity of Atewa Forest. Technical report to A Rocha, January 2019. https://ghana.arocha.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2019/11/Biodiversity-of-Atewa-A-Rocha.pdf

Kiribou, R., Tehoda, P., Chukwu, O., Bempah, G., Kühl, H. S., Ferreira, J., …, & Heinicke, S. (2024). Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts. PLOS Climate, 3(2), e0000345. doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345

Kusimi, J. M. (2015). Characterizing land disturbance in Atewa Range Forest Reserve and Buffer Zone. Land Use Policy, 49, 471-482. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.08.020

McCullough, J., Alonso, L. E., Naskrecki, P., Wright, H. E., & Osei-Owusu, Y. (2007). A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Eastern Ghana. Conservation International. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 47.

Purwins, S. (2022). Bauxite mining at Atewa Forest Reserve, Ghana: A political ecology of a conservation-exploitation conflict. GeoJournal, 87(2), 1085–1097. doi:10.1007/s10708-020-10303-3

Rapid Assessment Program. (2007). Biodiversity in the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Ghana. Conservation International. https://www.conservation.org/docs/default-source/publication-pdfs/ci_atewa_ghana_booklet

IUCN Congress 2020. https://www.iucncongress2020.org/motion/103


Page created by: Richard Ofori-Amanfo & APES Atlas Team Date: 2023-11-10

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