Kounounkan Classified Forest: Difference between revisions
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* The main threats are agricultural activities, poaching, logging and bushfire. | * The main threats are agricultural activities, poaching, logging and bushfire. | ||
* The conservation activities include anti-poaching patrols and awareness raising programs. | * The conservation activities include anti-poaching patrols and awareness raising programs. | ||
= Site characteristics = | = Site characteristics = | ||
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!Description | !Description | ||
!Year of threat | !Year of threat | ||
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|2 Agriculture & aquaculture | |2 Agriculture & aquaculture | ||
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|Cattle grazing, increased unseasonal fires across grassland (TIPAS 2017). | |Cattle grazing, increased unseasonal fires across grassland (TIPAS 2017). | ||
|Ongoing (2017) | |Ongoing (2017) | ||
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|5 Biological resource use | |||
|5.1.1 Subsistence bushmeat hunting | |||
|Present (unknown severity) | |||
|Hunting especially for bushmeat, targeting primates and duikers was reported (Barnett et al. 1994). | |||
|Ongoing (1994) | |||
|- | |- | ||
|5 Biological resource use | |5 Biological resource use | ||
Revision as of 10:45, 25 March 2026
West Africa > Republic of Guinea > Kounounkan Classified Forest
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Summary
- Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in Kounounkan Classified Forest.
- The population size is unknown.
- The population trend is unknown.
- The site has a total area of 50.32 km².
- The main threats are agricultural activities, poaching, logging and bushfire.
- The conservation activities include anti-poaching patrols and awareness raising programs.
Site characteristics
Moussayah sub-prefecture, 36 km north of Forecariah’s capital, hosts a forest with one of the last intact humid coastal forests, preserved by its rugged terrain. It boasts rich biodiversity, including primates, birds, reptiles, insects, and diverse plant species with ecological and medicinal value. The landscape features freshwater areas, rocky slopes, and sandstone massifs, marking Kounounkan as a transition zone between rainforest and savannah (Barnett et al. 1994).
Table 1. Basic site information for Kounounkan Classified Forest
| Species | Pan troglodytes verus |
| Area | 50.32 km² |
| Coordinates | Lat: 9.553423 , Lon: -12.865055 |
| Type of site | Non-protected area (Classified Forest) |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist montane forest |
| Type of governance | Governance by government |
Types of sites Governance types Habitat types
Ape status
According to the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) data, the last recorded sighting of chimpanzees in the Kounounkan Classified Forest was in 2015 (KBA 2025).
Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Kounounkan Classified Forest
| 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 | 1994 | Present | Kounounkan Classified Forest | Unknown | Barnett et al. 1994 | ||||||
| Pan troglodytes verus | 1995 | Present | Kounounkan Classified Forest | Unknown | Barnett et al. 1996 |
Sampling methods Analytical frameworks
Threats
Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Kounounkan Classified Forest
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Present (unknown severity) | Clearance of large areas for fields (TIPAS 2017). | Ongoing (2017) |
| 2 Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.3 Livestock farming & ranching | Present (unknown severity) | Cattle grazing, increased unseasonal fires across grassland (TIPAS 2017). | Ongoing (2017) |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.1.1 Subsistence bushmeat hunting | Present (unknown severity) | Hunting especially for bushmeat, targeting primates and duikers was reported (Barnett et al. 1994). | Ongoing (1994) |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.3.1 Subsistence logging | Present (unknown severity) | Wood cutting on a subsistence level (TIPAS 2017). | Ongoing (2017) |
Conservation activities
Kounounkan (also known as Kamalayah) Forêt Classé (Classified Forest) was created in 1994 (TIPAS 2017) with funding from the EU through UNOPS for the operationalization of the nature conservation corps (in terms of training and technical equipment). This support has helped to increase patrol coverage, reduce poaching in the reserve and raise awareness of chimpanzee status among local populations (UNOPS 2022). AFD has also financed the development of IGAs for local populations (AFD. n.d.).
Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Kounounkan Classified Forest
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Implementing organization(s) | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Counter-wildlife crime | 2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols | Patrol coverage has been enhanced through guards-led patrols, supported by UNOPS training and equipment for data collection (UNOPS 2022). | OGPNRF, UNOPS | Ongoing (2022) |
| 4 Education & awareness | 4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use | The staff conduct awareness and information programs for local communities in and around the reserve, focusing on the national and international status of chimpanzees, relevant legal frameworks, and the ecological role of chimpanzees (UNOPS 2022). | UNOPS | Ongoing (2022) |
Challenges
Insufficient funding has prevented the implementation of certain activities, particularly the strengthening of the conservation status, the acquisition of equipment, and the development of the Management Plan outlined in the Kounounkan Annual Conservation Action Plan (CEPF 2012).
Table 5. Challenges reported for Kounounkan Classified Forest
| Challenges | Specific challenges | Source | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Resources and capacity | 2.3 General lack of funding | CEPF 2012 | 2012 |
| 2 Resources and capacity | 2.1 Lack of capacity/training | TIPAS 2017 | 2017 |
| 4 Institutional support | 4.1 Lack of law enforcement | CEPF 2012 | 2012 |
| 4 Institutional support | 4.3 Lack of protected area status | TIPAS 2017 | 2017 |
| 2 Resources and capacity | 2.2 Lack of staff | TIPAS 2017 | 2017 |
Enablers
Research activities
Documented behaviours
Exposure to climate change impacts
External links
References
Barnett, A., Prangley, M., Hayman, P. V., Diawara, D., & Koman, J. (1994). A preliminary survey of Kounounkan forest, Guinea, West Africa. Oryx, 28(4), 269-275.
Barnett, A. A., Prangley, M., Hayman, P. V., Diawara, D., & Koman, J. (1996). A survey of the mammals of the Kounounkan Massif, south-western Guinea, West Africa. Journal of African Zoology, 110(3), 235-240.
Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership. (2025). Key Biodiversity Areas factsheet: Kounounkan. In World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas. https://keybiodiversityareas.org/ (Accessed May 20, 2025)
TIPAS Project. (2017). Assessment report of the Kounounkan Forest, Guinea: Biodiversity conservation and management recommendations. Herbier Guinée.
https://www.herbierguinee.org/uploads/2/6/3/0/26303479/11._tipas_report_kounounkan_new_final.pdf
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). (2012). [Title of report, e.g., "Conservation assessment of Grandes Chutes and Kounounkan forests, Guinea"]. https://www.cepf.net/sites/default/files/final.grandes.chutes.et_.kounounkan.pdf
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). (2022, June 17). Protecting flora and fauna in Guinea. https://www.unops.org/news-and-stories/stories/protecting-flora-and-fauna-in-guinea
Agence Française de Développement (AFD). (n.d.). Guinea. https://www.afd.fr/en/page-region-pays/guinea
Page created by: Aime Mizero Date: 2025-05-19