Proposed Kwa National Park

West Africa > Liberia > Proposed Kwa National Park

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Summary

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• West African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in the Proposed Kwa National Park.
• A population of 531 (CI: 321-1,028) individuals was estimated in 2017 in the area, formerly known as the Krahn-Bassa Proposed Protected Area.
• The population trend is decreasing.
• The size of the site is 2,226.7 km².
• The main threats are poaching and habitat loss due to farming.
• Conservation activities include biomonitoring and employment of ecoguards.

Site characteristics

The site is situated to the northwest of Sapo National Park. The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) have collected nearly 3,000 observations of wildlife at the site; in addition to the critically endangered Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus), pygmy hippos (Hexaprotodon liberiensis), pangolins (Smutsia gigantea), and forest elephants (Loxodonta africana) inhabit the area (WCF 2018).

Table 1. Basic site information for Proposed Kwa National Park

Species	Pan troglodytes verus
Area	2,142.26 km²
Coordinates	Lat: 5.670517 , Lon: -8.771672
Type of site	Proposed protected area (Proposed National Park)
Habitat types	Subtropical/​tropical moist lowland forest
Type of governance	Governance by government

Types of sites Governance types Habitat types

Ape status

Based on a 2017 transect survey of the area, formerly known as Krahn-Bassa Proposed Protected Area, the chimpanzee population was approximately 531 individuals (WCF 2018).

Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Proposed Kwa National Park

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	2017		0.95	0.151	531 (321-1028)	Proposed Kwa National Park (Krahn-Bassa Proposed Protected Area)	Line transects		WCF 2018
Pan troglodytes verus	2023-2024	Present				Proposed Kwa National Park	Line transects, Camera trap	Distance sampling	WCF 2024	Survey effort 1,604.04 km

Sampling methods Analytical frameworks

Threats

The WCF surveyed 455 households in the proposed protected area in 2017. This socioeconomic survey showed that communities in the area have very limited access to public services, vital resources and infrastructure (WCF 2018). Bushmeat hunting and trade are primary activities in the surveyed communities. Anthropogenic pressure is high in and around the area, due to logging, mining, and farming activities. In addition, WCF’s survey revealed some chimpanzees kept as pets in the communities, and one chimpanzee was confiscated by the Forestry Development Authority (WCF 2018).

Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Proposed Kwa National Park

Category	Specific threats	Threat level	Description	Year of threat
2 Agriculture & aquaculture	2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops	High (more than 70% of population affected)	A survey by the WCF reported that approximately 82% of surveyed households are farming in and around the site (WCF 2018). Cocoa farming encroachment (WCF 2024).	2018-Ongoing (2024)
3 Energy production & mining	3.2 Mining & quarrying	Low (up to 30% of population affected)	Former artisanal gold mining pits are present at the site (Rödel & Glos 2019). The WCF has also reported the presence of mining activities (WCF 2018); few observations of mining in 2024 (WCF 2024).	2018-Ongoing (2024)
5 Biological resource use	5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	High (more than 70% of population affected)	Two surveys in the area have recorded a large number of poaching signs (Rödel & Glos 2019, WCF 2018). Hunting for bushmeat (WCF 2024).	2018-Ongoing (2024)
5 Biological resource use	5.3 Logging & wood harvesting	Low (up to 30% of population affected)	Logging in the area (WCF 2018). Observation of few felled trees and illegal timber (WCF 2024).	2018-Ongoing (2024)
5 Biological resource use	5.1.4 Capture for the live animal trade	Present (unknown severity)	Pet trade, a survey by the WCF revealed chimpanzees kept as pets in some of the communities (WCF 2018)	Ongoing (2018)
1 Residential & commercial development	1.1 Residential areas	Low (up to 30% of population affected)	Observation of few settlements (WCF 2024).	Ongoing (2024)

Threats

Conservation activities

Together with Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority (FDA), the WCF has surveyed the proposed protected area to provide knowledge on the abundance and distribution of threatened and endemic species, and thereby endorse the creation of a new protected area (WCF 2018).

Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Proposed Kwa National Park

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	Line transects & camera traps to assess species abundance (WCF 2024).	WCF	2023-2024
2 Counter-wildlife crime	2.12 Implement community control of patrolling, banning hunting and removing snares	There is a community ecoguard program to help monitor illegal activities (WCF 2024).	WCF, FDA	Ongoing (2024)
4 Education & awareness	4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use	There are 20 wildlife clubs in local schools (WCF 2024).	WCF, FDA, Nature Compact	Ongoing (2024)
4 Education & awareness	4.4 Regularly play TV and radio announcements to raise ape conservation awareness	Series of radio programs to raise conservation awareness (WCF 2024).	WCF	2024
4 Education & awareness	4.5 Implement multimedia campaigns using theatre, film, print media, discussions	A theater tour was conducted in 19 communities around the site to raise conservation awareness (WCF 2024).	WCF, FDA, Eddie Theater Production	2024
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)	Local communities gets support in beekeeping activities (WCF 2024).	WCF, Universal Outreach Foundation	2024

Conservation activities

Challenges

Table 5. Challenges reported for Proposed Kwa National Park

Challenges	Specific challenges	Source	Year(s)
4 Institutional support	4.2 Lack of government support	WCF 2024	Ongoing (2024)
4 Institutional support	4.3 Lack of protected area status	WCF 2024	Ongoing (2024)
	Conflict of Interests	WCF 2024	Ongoing (2024)

Challenges

Exposure to climate change impacts

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  Precipitation anomaly in Proposed Kwa National Park

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  Temperature anomaly in Proposed Kwa National Park

External links

Wild Chimpanzee Foundation

References

Rödel M-O, Glos J. 2019. Herpetological surveys in two proposed protected areas in Liberia, West Africa. Zoosystematics and Evolution 95(1): 15-35. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.95.31726
Wild Chimpanzee Foundation. (2025). Annual report: Activities for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Retrieved from https://www.wildchimps.org
Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF). 2018. Activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Annual report 2017.

Page created by: Aime Mizero & Isabel Ordaz-Nemeth Date: 2025-05-13