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Cameroon-Nigeria Transboundary Conservation Program
HIGHLIGHTS
Download Africa's Gulf of Guinea Forests report
Habitat Types
· Mangroves
· Swamp forest
· Lowland rainforest
· Sub-montane forest
· Montane forest and grassland
Wildlife Present
Birds: more than 500 species present including the red-headed rockfowl, Picathartes oreas
Mammals: known as a primate hotspot including Cross River gorilla, Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee, drill, red colobus, Sclater's guenon and Preuss's guenon; other mammals include leopard, elephant
Butterflies: in excess of 1,000 species
Plants: high diversity of plant species due to complexity of habitat types present
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The biologically rich region encompassing the border areas of Nigeria and Cameroon in west Africa stands as a key "biodiversity hotspot" of great conservation priority. High levels of species richness and endemism (species only found in this area) are coupled with increasing threats of deforestation and the bushmeat trade as well as the pressures of some of the highest human population densities in all of Africa.
WCS is currently working in cooperation with our longstanding Cameroon and Nigerian programs to develop a combined conservation program focused on protecting and exploring the rich forests of this region. Recent initiatives include the designation of the Takamanda-Mone Landscape as a Technical Operations Unit, a government land-use classification that allows for land-use planning with conservation as the central theme, the creation of a community managed Wildlife Sanctuary in the Mbe Mountains, proposed creation of both the Takamanda National Park and Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary as well as ongoing research on the many important wildlife species in the region and in particular the Critically Endangered Cross River gorilla. Through these efforts we are creating a unified conservation force- providing standardized methods, training and ensuring cooperative management.
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