Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests
Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests | |
---|---|
Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests | |
Geography | |
Area | 1,141 km2 (441 sq mi) |
Countries | |
Conservation | |
Conservation status | Critical/endangered |
Global 200 | yes |
Protected | 736 km² (64%)[1] |
The Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in central Africa. It occupies the upper slopes of coastal Mount Cameroon in Cameroon, and the mountains of nearby Bioko island in Equatorial Guinea.[2][3][4]
Geography
The ecoregion includes the distinct
The montane forests occur as low as 500 meters elevation on Mount Cameroon. They also occur above 1500 meters elevation on three peaks on Bioko,
Both Bioko and Mount Cameroon are part of the
Climate
The southwestern slopes of these mountains have a wet climate all year round.
Flora
The montane forests of Mount Cameroon and Bioko are home to the distinct Afromontane flora of Africa's high mountains. The chief plant communities are montane forests, montane grasslands, and heathlands. At least 42 plant species are strictly endemic and another 50 near-endemic to Mount Cameroon.
Fauna
370 species of birds have been recorded on Mount Cameroon, including some endemics. Endemic birds include the
Conservation and threats
The forest of Mount Cameroon is threatened, especially at lower elevations, by conversion to agriculture and logging.
Protected areas
A 2017 assessment found that 736 km², or 64%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Only 5% of the unprotected area is still forested.
See also
External links
- "Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- World Wildlife Fund, ed. (2001). "Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests". WildWorld Ecoregion Profile. National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08.
- Cameroon mountains Endemic Bird Area (BirdLife International)
References
- ^ Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [1]
- ^ "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ "Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests". Digital Observatory for Protected Areas. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ "Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
- ^ "Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
- ^ BirdLife International (2024) Endemic Bird Areas factsheet: Cameroon mountains. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [2]