List of protected areas of Cameroon

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Preuss's red colobus

The protected areas of Cameroon include national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, faunal reserves, and one flora sanctuary. Many protected areas in Cameroon are still in pristine condition, mostly because there is less tourism in Cameroon than other regions of Africa.[1] According to reported statistics, there were ten protected areas from 1932 to 1960. Six protected areas were added between 1960 and 1980, five more were added between 1980 and 2004, and eight protected areas are under consideration within a final approval process.[2]

National parks

19 national parks have been established in Cameroon.[3]

Bénoué National Park

Main article: Bénoué National Park
A hippopotamus in the river

Bénoué National Park was first established as a faunal reserve in 1932. It was upgraded to national park status in 1968, and in 1981, it became a biosphere reserve.

waterbirds.[4]

Bouba Njida National Park

Main article: Bouba Njida National Park
African painted wild dogs

Bouba Njida National Park covers an area of 220,000 hectares (540,000 acres). Initially it was established as a reserve in 1932. It was upgraded to level of park in 1980.

IUCN has a count of 60 within Cameroon and they are reported from this park apart from two other national parks in the country. A total of 23 antelope species occur in the park.[12] A serious problem of elephant poaching by Sudanese from across the border through Chad has been reported in February 2012 to the extent of nearly 450 elephants killed out of a total population of about 600 in the park.[13] To combat this problem, Cameroon has deployed helicopters and 600 soldiers to control elephant poaching in its parks.[14]

Boumba Bek National Park

Main article: Boumba Bek National Park
Poached elephant carcass in Bouba Njida National Park in Cameroon.

Boumba Bek National Park encompasses an area of 210,000 hectares (520,000 acres).[2] In 1995, the park was named an Essential Protection Zone and on 17 October 2005 it was declared a national park. The park lies between the Boumba and Bek Rivers in southeast Cameroon, from which it derives its name. The park has a tropical climate with temperature ranging from 23.1 to 25˚C with an average annual temperature of 24˚C. Its relative humidity varies between 60 and 90% while annual rainfall is 1500 mm per year. It encompasses a rich biodiversity of plants and animals. The habitat consists of evergreen lowland rainforest, along with several patches of closed-canopy evergreen forest.[15][16] Elephant density of 2.5 km2 in the park is reported to be one of the highest. However poaching for elephant ivory and meat are taking their toll in the park area. 300 fish species are also reported.[16] Endangered gorillas are reported from the park. 280 bird species are reported in the park including the rare Dja warbler.[15]

Campo Ma'an National Park

Main article: Campo Ma'an National Park
A Peters's duiker antelope

Campo Ma'an National Park covers an area of 264,064 hectare and was established in 2000.

leopards. Reptile species reported are 127, and fish species are 250. It is also one of the 33 Bird Identified Areas (BIAs) in the south western corner of Cameroon, bordering with Equatorial Guinea on the south and the Atlantic Ocean to its west and has 302 bird species.[17][19] The park is subject to many threats to its ecosystem mainly due to logging, poaching, agricultural activities and coastal development[20]

Douala Edéa National Park

Main article: Douala Edéa National Park
Gymnosiphon longistylus.

Douala Edéa National Park is located in the Littoral Region of Cameroon, on either side of the mouth of the Sanaga River on the shore of the Bight of Biafra, opposite the island of Bioko.[21] The reserve was established in 1932. As of 2000, it covered 160,000 hectares (400,000 acres).[22] Cameroon designated the reserve as a wildlife park for scientific purposes in 1971, Lake Tissongo, a lagoon connected to the south bank of the Sanaga river by a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) tidal channel, is included in the park.[23] 80% of the reserve is covered by tropical lowland equatorial forest, and 15% by Atlantic mangrove forests. Fauna include forest elephants, primates (chimpanzees, monkey species such as black colobus), antelopes (sitatunga, blue duiker, etc.), West African manatees, sea turtles, dolphins, crocodiles, alligator, many fish species, terrestrial and water bird species.[24] The red-capped mangabey was reported to be common in the reserve in 1972.[25] The endangered red-eared nose-spotted guenon was reported in the Lombé part of the park in densities of 2-3 groups per square kilometers, but populations had dropped elsewhere due to hunting.

Faro National Park

Main article: Faro National Park
Giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus derbianus)

Faro National Park covers an area of 330,000 hectares (820,000 acres). Initially it was established as a reserve in 1947. It was upgraded to level of park in 1968.

Damaliscus lunatus korrigum (VU), and a few Loxodonta africana (EN).[26]

Korup National Park

Main article: Korup National Park

Korup National Park covers an area of 126,000 hectares (310,000 acres). It was a reserve in 1962 which was upgraded to the status of a park in 1982.

fungi.[30] Plant species reported include 480 species of herbs. The park has a unique record of more than 400 species of birds, 82 reptiles, 92 amphibians, and about 1000 species of butterflies. Aquafauna consists of 130 different fish species and mammal species are over 160.[31]

Lobéké National Park

Main article: Lobéké National Park
Stiphrornis pyrrholaemus
.

Lobéké National Park established in 2000 covers an area of 43,000 hectares (110,000 acres).

Gorilla gorilla (EN) and Pan troglodytes (EN).[33]

Nki National Park

Main article: Nki National Park
Hylochoerus meinertzhageni

Stiphrornis erythrothorax.[34][35]

Waza National Park

Main article: Waza National Park
Giraffes in Waza National Park.

Waza National Park covers an area of 170,000 hectares (420,000 acres) and was established as a park in 1968 in the Far-North Province of Cameroon. It was established as the Waza Reserve on 24 March 1934, initially covering an area of 155,000 hectares (380,000 acres) which was extended in 1935 to cover 165,000 hectares (410,000 acres). It is reported to be one of the best parks in the

Francophone countries of Africa[2][36] UNESCO inscribed it as a biosphere in 1982 and for its preservation and conservation a Management Master Plan was drawn up in 1997.[37]
The park's habitat is mainly in the "Chad depression" with average elevation in the range of a 300 to 320 m (highest ground goes up to 500m) in arid climatic conditions with average annual precipitation of 700mm and mean annual temperature of 28 °C. With this setting the vegetation types which cover the park are categorized under five broad types of open
Acacia seyal tree savanna and Yaéré floodplains with perennial grasses. In the desert conditions with now streams flowing through the park area there are no perennial grasses in the park.[38]

The faunal species reported from the park are giraffe

Numida meleagris.[38]

Proposed national parks

Eight national parks have been proposed but not yet established:[3]

Wildlife sanctuaries

Cameroon has four wildlife sanctuaries (

IUCN category IV), and one proposed wildlife sanctuary:[3]

  • Mengame Wildlife Sanctuary
    (267 km2), est. 2008
  • Bayang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary
    (663 km2), est. 1996
A cross bridge in the Mbayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary

Proposed wildlife sanctuaries

  • Rumpi Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
    (452 km2)

Faunal reserves

Cameroon has four faunal reserves (IUCN category IV):[3]

Dja Faunal Reserve

Main article: Dja Faunal Reserve
Baka Chief in Dja Faunal Reserve
Slender-snouted crocodile

Dja Faunal Reserve was established as a faunal reserve in 1950. It was designated by

Crocodylus cataphractus. There are 60 fish species of which only one is endemic.[39][40]

Flora sanctuary

Cameroon has one flora sanctuary (IUCN category IV)[3]

  • Kilum Ijim, Mont Oku Flora Sanctuary
    (10 km2), est. 2004

Transboundary protected areas and biosphere reserves

Five transboundary protected areas cover portions of Cameroon and neighboring countries.[41]

Cameroon has three UNESCO-recognized

biosphere reserves, Waza National Park, designated 1979, Benoué, designated in 1981, and Dja Faunal Reserve, designated in 1981.[43]

History

Korup became a national park in 1982.

Cameroon's first protected area in the northern part of the country was established in 1932 by the colonial administration of French Cameroon. The first forest reserve created was the Mozogo Gokoro Reserve on 12 June 1932 and the second in the same year was the Benue Reserve on 19 November 1932. The third reserve, the Waza Reserve was established on 24 March 1934, initially covering an area of 155,000 hectares (380,000 acres) which was extended in 1935 to cover 165,000 hectares (410,000 acres); this is one of the most popular reserves in the country.

Cameroon became independent in 1960, and the national government retained the country's system of protected areas, and designated new ones. Until 1975, there were 9 protected areas with greater focus on the north than the south. Following the Earth Summit of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 1992, the number of protected areas increased substantially and were well distributed covering all the ten provinces of the country in widely differing topographic, climatic, hydrological and biological conditions.[2] There are 20 protected reserves which include national parks, zoos, forest reserves and sanctuaries.[2]

Elephant at Kalfou Reserve
Wide view of Mbayang Game Sanctuary

The historical record of creation of various national parks/reserves (the figures in parentheses indicate first date of establishment as a reserve and the second date indicates conversion into the park) are:[2]

  • Waza National Park 170,000 hectares (420,000 acres) (1934/-)
  • Kalamaloue National Park 4,500 hectares (11,000 acres) (1947–1972)
  • Mozogo-Gokoro National Park 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres) (1932–1970)
  • Benue National Park 180,000 hectares (440,000 acres) (1932–1968)
  • Faro National Park 330,000 hectares (820,000 acres) (1932–1980)
  • Bouba.Ndjida National Park 220,000 hectares (540,000 acres) (1947–1968)
  • Korup National Park 126,000 hectares (310,000 acres) (1962/ 1982)
  • Dja Reserve 526,000 hectares (1,300,000 acres) (1950)
  • Douala Edea Wildlife Reserve 160,000 hectares (400,000 acres), in the Littoral area (1932)
  • Lobeke Wildlife Park 43,000 hectares (110,000 acres) in 2000
  • Campo Wildlife Park 271,000 hectares (670,000 acres)(1932–2000)
  • Kalfou Wildlife Park 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) in 1933
  • Lake Ossa Forest Reserve 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) in Littoral zone in 1968
  • Kimbi Forest Reserve 5,600 hectares (14,000 acres) in 1964
  • Santchou Forest reserve 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres) in 1968
  • Mbi Crater 400 hectares (990 acres) in 1964
  • Mengame Game Sanctuary 17,500 hectares (43,000 acres) in 2000
  • Mbayang Mbo Game Sanctuary 48,500 hectares (120,000 acres) in 2000
  • Mbam et Djérem 416,512 hectares (1,029,220 acres)in 2000
  • Boumba Bek Park 210,000 hectares (520,000 acres) in 2000
  • Lobeke Park 428,000 hectares (1,060,000 acres) in 2000

References

  1. ^ "Wildlife National Parks". Consulate of the Republic of Cameroon, Australia. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Mesmin Tchindjang; Clair Réné Banga; Appolinaire Nankam; Jean Sylvestre Makak (2001). "Mapping of Protected Areas Evolution in Cameroon from the Beginning to 2000: Lesson to Learn and Perspectives" (PDF). Table 1 World Wildlife Organization. World Wildlife Organization. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Cameroon". Protected Planet. Accessed 15 June 2020
  4. ^ a b c "BirdLife IBA Factsheet CM007 - Bénoué National Park". BirdLife International. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  5. ISBN 978-2-8317-0016-8
    . Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  6. ^ a b "WILDLIFE NATIONAL PARKS". Consulate of the Republic of Cameroon - Sydney, Australia. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  7. ^ Nchami, John (18 September 2010). "Putting the park in the hands of the people". Science in Africa. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  8. ISBN 978-1-84353-118-0
    . Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  9. ISBN 1-84353-118-6
    . Bénoué National Park.
  10. ISBN 978-2-8317-0418-0
    . Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  11. ^ "Bouba Ndjidal National Park". European Union. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  12. ^ S.N. Stuart, Richard J. Adams, Martin Jenkins. 1990
  13. ^ "Cameroon elephant poaching crisis spreads". Traffic International of WWF and IUCN. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  14. ^ "Cameroon calls in the army to combat wave of elephant poaching in national park". Africa – News and Analysis. 25 December 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  15. ^ a b Ndameu, Benoit (July 2001). "Case Study 7: Cameroon-Boumba Bek" (PDF). Forest Peoples Programme. Moreton-in-Marsh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2008.
  16. ^ a b c "Cameroon's Two New National Parks Shelter Forests, Wildlife". Environment News Service. 17 October 2005. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  17. ^ a b Campo-Ma’an National Park, Cameroon from WWF. Accessed December 2009.
  18. ^ "Campo Ma'an Site". Biocam.net. Archived from the original on 6 May 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  19. ^ "Cameroon, Important Bird Areas". Africa Birdclub organization. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  20. ^ "Conservation of the Campo-Ma'an National Park and its Surroundings,Project details". Panda.Org of WWF. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  21. ^ "Douala Edéa Wildlife Reserve". World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved 19 February 2013.[permanent dead link]
  22. ISBN 978-0-262-73132-4
    . Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  23. ^ "Cameroon" (PDF). Ramsar Wetlands. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  24. ^ Ngea, Peter (19 October 2010). "Douala – Edea Reserve: the last refuge of hope for man and nature (Part 2)". EnviroMend. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  25. ^ "Protection of Cameroon estuary mangroves through improved smoke houses" (PDF). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  26. ^ a b c "Faro National Park". Important Birds Areas of Cameroon. IUCN. Org. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  27. ISBN 0-691-12219-9
    .
  28. ^ Emslie, R. 2012. Diceros bicornis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 11 May 2015
  29. ^ "Western Cameroon Projects: Korup National Park". The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Organization. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  30. JSTOR 20443246
    .
  31. ^ "Korup National Park - The Displacement of the Indigenous People: Voluntary or by Force?". University for Peace and Conflict. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  32. ^ Curran, Bryan K. "Strategic Planning For Conservation Management Options In The Lobeke Region, Southeastern Cameroon". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  33. ^ a b c "Important Bird Area factsheet: Lobéké National Park, Cameroon". Downloaded from the Data Zone at www.birdlife.org. BirdLife International. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  34. ^ a b "Nki (Important Birds Areas of Cameroon)". BirdLife International. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  35. ^ a b Ngea, Peter. "Wildlife Sanctuary Found in Nki National Park". Field Trip Earth. North Carolina Zoological Society. Archived from the original on 15 June 2006. Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  36. ^ "Waza National Park". Official web site of the Ministry of Tourism. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  37. ^ MacAllister, Mark. "June 2005 Waza Anti-Poaching Report". Field Trip Earth. North Carolina Zoological Society. Archived from the original on 27 September 2006. Retrieved 28 January 2007.
  38. ^ a b "World Conservation Monitoring Centre". 1983. Retrieved 28 January 2007.
  39. ^ a b c "Dja Faunal Reserve Fact Sheet". UNESCO. Org. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  40. ^ a b "Dja Faunal Reserve Cameroon" (PDF). United Nations Environment Programme, World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Org. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  41. ^ Lysenko, I., Besançon, C., Savy, C. "2007 UNEP-WCMC Global List of Transboundary Protected Areas". Global Transboundary Conservation Network. Accessed 16 June 2020. [1]
  42. ^ "Sangha Trinational". World Heritage List, UNESCO. Accessed 15 June 2020. [2]
  43. ^ "Biosphere reserves in Africa". UNESCO. Accessed 15 June 2020

Bibliography

  • S.N. Stuart, Richard J. Adams, Martin Jenkins. 1990. Biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa and its islands: conservation, management, and sustainable use, Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Programme, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Species Survival Commission, Published by IUCN, 242 pages,
    ISBN 978-2-8317-0021-2
    .
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