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West Africa > Republic of Guinea > Moyen-Bafing National Park

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Summary

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Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in Moyen-Bafing National Park.
It has been estimated that more than 5,000 individuals occur in the proposed Moyen-Bafing National Park.
The chimpanzee population trend is likely stable.
This site has a total size of 6676 km².
Key threats to chimpanzees are agriculture, bauxite mining, human wildlife conflict and a proposed hydraulic dam.
Conservation activities implemented by the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) include the establishment of a national park, environmental education, supporting sustainable agriculture, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration and reforestation.
Moyen-Bafing National Park is in the final stage of being officially designated a National Park.

Site characteristics

Moyen-Bafing National Park (NP) is a protected area in its final stages of official designation in Northern Guinea. The site covers an area of 6426 km² and is located around the Bafing river close to the border with Mali (WCF 2017a). The national park encompasses seven classified forests: Bakoum, Bakoun (since 1951, 295.07 km2), Bani (since 1952, 189 km2), Boula (since 1955, 275 km2), Dar-Es-Salam (also Darou-salam, since 1954, 174.74 km²), Dokoro (since 1952, 78 km2) and Sobory (since 1956, 11.75 km2, WCF 2016, UNEP-WCMC & IUCN 2019).

Moyen-Bafing NP is created to meet the aim of the Government of Guinea to designate 25% of its terrestrial area as protected areas and it covers 8% of Guinea’s terrestrial territory (WCF 2017b). The main aim of this site is to offset the negative effects that bauxite mines run by the Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) and the

Compagnie de Bauxite de Guinée (CBG) have on western chimpanzees in Sangaredi. Its designation has been mandated by the Guinean Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests in 2015, and park creation is implemented by the Guinean Office of Parks and Reserves (OGUIPAR) and the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF 2018). The design of the national park includes several zones with different degree of anthropogenic usage: a core area incorporating all seven classified forests, a buffer area in which only sustainable activities may be conducted, and a zone called ‘development zone’ (WCF 2015).

The Moyen-Bafing NP covers different habitat types: wooded and herbaceous savanna, gallery forests, bamboo forests, wooded grasslands, bowé, wetlands and rivers (WCF 2016, 2018). The area is also characterized by a high biodiversity with at least 33 different mammal species, including leopard (Panthera pardus), lion (Panthera lion), golden cat (Caracal aurata), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), black-and-white colobus (Colobus polykomos), crested porcepine (Hystrix cristata), bay duiker (Cephalophus dorsalis), yellow-back duiker (Cephalophus sylvicultur), Guinean baboon (Papio papio), and bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus, WCF 2016, 2017b). Surveys also confirmed the presence of a species new to the region, the Gambian mongoose (Mungos gambianus, WCF 2018). The forests of Bani and Dar-es-Salam are important areas for antelopes as they harbor the second highest diversity in antelope species across Guinea (Brugière 2012). An ornithological survey confirmed the presence of 147 bird species, including Scavenger Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus), African Vulture (Gyps africanus) and Rüppell Vulture (Gyps rueppellii). A botanical survey found 206 plant species, 14 of which listed as threatened, and two plant species were new to science (WCF 2018).

A study on the protected area network that ranked the most important Key Biodiversity Areas of Guinea based on the occurrence of globally threatened large and medium-sized mammals, ranked Bakoun Classified Forest as rank six and the forests of Bani and Dar-es-Salam on rank 12 (Brugière & Kormos 2009).

Table 1. Basic site information for Moyen-Bafing National Park

Species	Pan troglodytes verus
Area	6,676 km²
Coordinates	Lat: 11.59 , Lon: -11.18
Type of site	Protected area (National Park)
Habitat types	Savanna, Shrubland, Subtropical/tropical dry forest, Grassland, Wetlands (lakes, rivers, streams, bogs, marshes), Agricultural land
Type of governance	Governance by government

Types of sites Governance types Habitat types

Ape status

In a nationwide survey Rebecca Kormos confirmed the presence of western chimpanzees in Bakoun Classified Forest based on a questionnaire survey (Ham 1998). This was confirmed by a survey conducted in 2001 (Catterson et al. 2001). Chimpanzee presence was confirmed in the classified forests of Boula and Dokoro (Granier and Martinez 2002). In 2013/14 the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) conducted detailed surveys of the area along the Bafing river and estimated that more than 5,000 chimpanzees occur in an area of approximately 8,000 km2 (WCF 2014). Chimpanzee densities were highest in the classified forests (WCF 2014). High chimpanzee densities were confirmed by a follow-up survey in 2015/16 by the WCF (WCF 2016). Since 2017, the WCF implements a biomonitoring study with camera traps (WCF 2017b).

Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Moyen-Bafing National Park

Species	Year	Occurrence	Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI)	Abundance estimate (95% CI)	Survey area	Sampling method	Source	Comments
Pan troglodytes verus	1997	Present			Bakoun CF	Interviews	Ham 1998	Questionnaire survey
Pan troglodytes verus	2001	Present			Bakoun CF	Reconnaissance walk	Catterson et al. 2001	Reconnaissance survey
Pan troglodytes verus	2003-2004	Present			Boula and Dokoro CF	Reconnaissance walk	Granier & Martinez 2004	Reconnaissance survey
Pan troglodytes verus	2013-2014		0.58	5542.0	8153 km² around the Bafing river	Line transects	WCF 2014
Pan troglodytes verus	2015-2016			4365.0	Moyen-Bafing National Park (4,228 km²)	Line transects	WCF 2016
Pan troglodytes verus	2018-2019	Present	2.52		100 km² grids (Bakoun)	Camera trap	Debetencourt et al. 2024	The provided density estimate of 2.52 individuals/km² applies only to Bakoun (specifically group Bakoun 4). Because, its home range was least likely to extend beyond the camera grid.
Pan troglodytes verus	2019-2020	Present			101 km² grids (Koukoutamba)	Camera trap	Debetencourt et al. 2024

Sampling methods Analytical frameworks

Threats

A detailed demographic survey conducted by the WCF in 2016 found that 405 villages are located in Moyen-Bafing NP. 23 of those villages are in classified forests, 11 of which are not legally recognized (WCF 2016). Overall, human densities are low with 9.54 inhabitants per km² as 70% of the villages have less than 150 inhabitants (WCF 2016). People use the area for agriculture and hunting wildlife. Bush-fires for clearing agricultural areas are very prominent threats to ecosystems (WCF 2016). Further threats include overgrazing, poor agricultural methods, soil erosion, and overfishing (Bakarr 2001, WCF 2016, 2017b, 2018). Excessive deforestation and uncontrolled bush-fires reinforce negative effects of climatic changes, such as reduced rainfall, drought and dried up rivers (WCF 2016). In addition, a hydraulic dam is planned to be constructed upstream on the Bafing river, the Koukoutamba dam project lead by the Senegal River Basin Development Authority (OMVS:Organisation pour la Mise en Valeur du fleuve Sénégal), which could threaten 750 chimpanzee due to the permanent flooding of areas in the Moyen-Bafing NP (WCF 2016). There are also mining concessions by the Société Bauxite de Dabola-Tougué Corporation (SBDT) that encompass two classified forests in the southern part of Moyen-Bafing NP and if developed could threaten an estimated 1300 chimpanzees (WCF 2016).

The area is very isolated so that people lack access to basic public services such as education, health, sanitation and drinking water (WCD 2018). Consequently, the local population relies strongly on the provision of ecosystem services and is involved in activities further damaging the local ecosystem, such as deforestation or bushfires (WCF 2018). Access to water is further limited by the effects of climate change resulting in a decrease of rainfall and the drying up of rivers (WCF 2018).

Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Moyen-Bafing National Park

Category	Specific threats	Threat level	Description	Year of threat
2 Agriculture & aquaculture	2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Medium (30-70% of population affected)	Agricultural activities widespread (Bakarr et al. 2001; WCF 2016).	2001-Ongoing (2016)
2 Agriculture & aquaculture	2.3 Livestock farming & ranching	Medium (30-70% of population affected)	Area used for grazing livestock (Bakarr et al. 2001; WCF 2016).	2001-Ongoing (2016)
1 Residential & commercial development	1.1 Residential areas	Medium (30-70% of population affected)	405 villages (WCF 2016).	Ongoing (2016)
11 Climate change & severe weather	11.2 Droughts	Present (unknown severity)	Reduced rainfall, drought, and dried up rivers increase the pressure on chimpanzee habitat as more habitat is converted for human uses (WCF 2016).	Ongoing (2016)
3 Energy production & mining	3.2 Mining & quarrying	Present (unknown severity)	Two mining concessions but not active (WCF 2016).	Ongoing (2016)
5 Biological resource use	5.3 Logging & wood harvesting	High (more than 70% of population affected)	Deforestation reinforces negative impacts of climate change (WCF 2016).	Ongoing (2016)
7 Natural system modifications	7.1 Fire & fire suppression	High (more than 70% of population affected)	Bush fires for clearing agricultural land (WCF 2016).	Ongoing (2016)
5 Biological resource use	5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Medium (30-70% of population affected)	Hunting occurs, but hunting taboos also widespread (Bakarr et al. 2001; Boesch et al. 2017; WCF 2016).	Ongoing (2017)
5 Biological resource use	5.1.5 Persecution/human wildlife conflict	Present (unknown severity)	A potential human–wildlife conflict has been reported, where people feel unsafe around great apes. Both humans and great apes share the same water sources and rely on wild natural resources such as forest fruits (Regnaut S. pers. comm. 2025).	Ongoing (2025)

Threats

Conservation activities

As part of the project “Projet de Conservation de Chimpanzés” local hunters were trained in 2001 to collect monitoring data on the number and movement of chimpanzees in Bakoun Classified Forest (Kormos et al. 2003). Since 2014, the WCF is implementing different environmental awareness raising activities, often focused on the protection of western chimpanzees, including radio and TV broadcasts, an extracurricular environmental education program at schools (Club P.A.N. program), and theater awareness raising campaigns in several villages with discussion rounds (WCF 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017b, 2018). To counteract the negative effects of deforestation the WCF started a plant nursery in 2016 and the first reforestation project has been launched in 2018 covering 4.34 ha (WCF 2016, WCF 2018). Since 2018, the WCF implements bushfire prevention activities such as cutting fire breaks [WCF 2018].

The design of the national park includes several zones with different degree of anthropogenic usage: a fully protected core area incorporating all seven classified forests, a buffer zone in which only sustainable activities may be conducted, and a zone called ‘development zone’ (WCF 2015). The process of park creation involves regular community consultation meetings to understand people’s need and an environmental and social management plan was drafted (WCF 2016, WCF 2017b). As water shortage is a serious concern in the area, the WCF is implementing a monitoring study focused on water levels of the rivers, to inform measures that can improve water security for the human population and for the flora and fauna (WCF 2017b).

Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Moyen-Bafing National Park

Category	Specific activity	Description	Year of activity
1 Development impact mitigation	1.4 Farm more intensively and effectively in selected areas and spare more natural land	Introduced Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration to support environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural practices, support market gardens (WCF 2018)	Ongoing (2018)
2 Counter-wildlife crime	2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols	Regular patrols and law enforcement activities have been reported (Regnaut S. pers. comm. 2025).	Ongoing (2025)
4 Education & awareness	4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use	Different environmental awareness raising activities implemented (WCF 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017b, 2018)	2014-Ongoing (2018)
4 Education & awareness	4.2 Involve local community in ape research and conservation management	Community-based monitoring system of chimpanzees implemented (Kormos et al. 2013). In addition, Local communities are also involved in conservation programs by supporting the establishment of co-management structures (Regnaut S. pers. comm. 2025).	2001-Ongoing (2025)
4 Education & awareness	4.4 Regularly play TV and radio announcements to raise ape conservation awareness	Radio and TV shows used to raise environmental awareness (WCF 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017b, 2018)	2014-Ongoing (2018)
4 Education & awareness	4.5 Implement multimedia campaigns using theatre, film, print media, discussions	Environmental awareness raising activities include theater plays, discussion rounds and extra-curricular school activities (WCF 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017b, 2018)	2014-Ongoing (2018)
5 Protection & restoration	5.1 Create buffer zones around protected ape habitat	Design of national park includes a core area, a buffer area for sustainable activities only and a so-called area for development (WCF 2015)	Ongoing (2015)
5 Protection & restoration	5.11 Protect important food/nest trees before burning	Bushfire prevention activities such as cutting fire breaks (WCF 2018)	Ongoing (2018)
5 Protection & restoration	5.2 Legally protect ape habitat	Seven classified forests, and National Park in process of creation (WCF 2015, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2019)	1952-Ongoing (2015)
5 Protection & restoration	5.6 Habitat restoration	Plant nursery and reforestation activities (WCF 2016, 2017b, 2018)	2016-Ongoing (2018)
7 Economic & other incentives	7.1 Provide monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g., REDD, alternative income, employment)	Local people are hired to work in conservation projects (Regnaut S. pers. comm. 2025).	Ongoing (2025)
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)	Hydrology study implemented by WCF (WCF 2017b). Local communities are supported in developing new income sources, such as selling local products; they are also provided with general education and life skills, supported in managing their own forests, and offered non-cash compensation, such as the construction of a new well if the previous one was used by great apes (Regnaut S. pers. comm. 2025).	2017-Ongoing (2025)

Conservation activities

Challenges

Table 5. Challenges reported for Moyen-Bafing National Park

Challenges	Specific challenges	Source	Year(s)
2 Resources and capacity	2.1 Lack of capacity/training	Regnaut S. pers. comm. 2025	Ongoing (2025)

Challenges

Enablers

Table 6. Enablers reported for Moyen-Bafing National Park

Enablers	Specific enablers	Source	Year(s)
2 Resources and capacity	2.1 Sufficient staff	Regnaut S. pers. comm. 2025	Ongoing (2025)
2 Resources and capacity	2.2 Sufficient funding	Regnaut S. pers. comm. 2025	Ongoing (2025)
2 Resources and capacity	2.3 Continuous/long-term funding	Regnaut S. pers. comm. 2025	Ongoing (2025)
2 Resources and capacity	2.6 External partnerships that add expertise or resources	Regnaut S. pers. comm. 2025	Ongoing (2025)
1 Site management
3 Engaged community
4 Institutional support
5 Ecological context
6 Safety and stability

Enablers

Research activities

In 2014/15, a study on the ecological and socio-economic drivers of mammal densities was conducted in Moyen-Bafing NP (Boesch et al. 2017). Similar data was collected in a follow-up survey in 2017 (WCF 2017b). A temporary research site was set up in Bakoun Classified Forest by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany, and the WCF as part of the Pan African Programme (PanAf) ‘The Cultured Chimpanzee’ from 2014 to 2015 (Boesch et al. 2016). Further research includes research on chimpanzee behavior (since 2017), study on the degradation of chimpanzee nests (since 2015), a meteorological study measuring rainfall, humidity and temperature (since 2016), a bushfire study on areas that burn regularly (since 2014) and a study on the hydrology of the rivers (since 2016, WCF 2017b). In 2018, a botanical survey was implemented as a collaboration between the WCF with the Kew Royal Botanical Garden and the National Herbarium of Guinea, that discovered two plant species new to science (WCF 2018). The same year an ornithological monitoring study was implemented by the WCF and Biotope (WCF 2018).

Documented behaviours

Table 7. Behaviours documented for Moyen-Bafing National Park

Category	Behavior	Observation type	Prevalence	Observation dates	Source	Habituation	Species	Comment
	Algae fishing				Boesch et al. 2016

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. subm. 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 2C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3C 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 (see Kiribou et al. subm. for details).

Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Moyen-Bafing National Park

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	27.2	27.1	27.5	28.8
Annual precipitation [mm]	1253	1217	1214	1232	1171
Max no. consecutive dry days (per year)	84.1	88	89.7	94.2	95.3
No. days with heavy precipitation (per year)	3.2	4.3	3.8	4.8	3.6

Table 9. Projected exposure of apes to extreme climate impact events in Moyen-Bafing National Park

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	10.5	0.53	7	0.53	9.5	0.53	14.5	0.53
Drought	0	0	0	0	0.25	25	0	0
Heatwave	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.5	50
River flood	1.25	0.65	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tropical cyclone	0	0	0	0	0.5	0.58	0	0
Wildfire	30	2.08	30	1.91	29	2.05	29	2.41

Precipitation anomaly in Moyen-Bafing National Park
Temperature anomaly in Moyen-Bafing National Park

External links

References

Bakarr M et al. 2001. in IUCN 2008. From forest to the sea: biodiversity connections from Guinea to Togo. Conservation priority setting workshop. Washington D.C., USA: Conservation International

Boesch C et al. 2016. Chimpanzees routinely fish for algae with tools during the dry season in Bakoun, Guinea, American Journal of Primatology. 79: e22613

Boesch L et al. 2017. Wild mammals as economic goods and implications for their conservation, Ecology and Society 22(4):36

Brugière D, Kormos R. 2009. Review of the protected area network in Guinea, West Africa, and recommendations for new sites for biodiversity conservation, Biodiversity and Conservation, 18:847

Brugière D. 2012. Identifying priority areas for the conservation of antelopes in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa, using the complementarity approach, Oryx, 46(2): 253-259

Catterson TM et al. 2001. Programmatic environmental assessment of co-management of reserved forests in Guinea, prepared for: USAID/GUINEA
Debetencourt, B., Barry, M. M., Arandjelovic, M., Stephens, C., Maldonado, N., & Boesch, C. (2024). Camera traps unveil demography, social structure, and home range of six unhabituated Western chimpanzee groups in the Moyen Bafing National Park, Guinea. American Journal of Primatology, 86, e23578. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23578

Granier N, Martinez L. 2004. Première reconnaissance des chimpanzés Pan troglodytes verus dans la zone transfontalière entre la Guinée et le Mali (Afrique de l’Ouest), Primatologie, 6:423-447.

Ham R. 1998. Nationwide chimpanzee census and large mammal survey Republic of Guinea. Projet de conservation des chimpanzés en Guineée. Report to the European Union.

Kormos R et al. 2003. The Republic of Guinea, in Kormos, R. Boesch, C., Bakarr, M.I. & Butynski, T.M. [eds.] Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK

WCF. 2012. Annual report 2012 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation

WCF. 2014. Annual report 2014 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation

WCF. 2015 Annual report 2015 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation

WCF. 2016. Annual report 2016 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation

WCF. 2017a. Guinea approves creation of largest sanctuary for the West African chimpanzee. Press release of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation from 30 October 2017. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation

WCF. 2017b. Annual report 2017 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation

WCF. 2018. Annual report 2018 – activities of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation for improved conservation of chimpanzees and their habitat in West Africa. Online: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation

UNEP-WCMC, IUCN. 2019. Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), Cambridge, UK: UNEP-WCMC and IUCN Online: www.protectedplanet.net

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