Country: Guinea
Administrative region: Dubreka (Prefecture)
Central co-ordinates: 9.95056 N, 13.52194 W
Area: 14.5km²
Qualifying IPA Criteria
A(i)Site contains one or more globally threatened species, C(iii)Site contains nationally threatened or restricted habitat or vegetation types, AND/OR habitats that have severely declined in extent nationally
IPA assessment rationale
The Gbélén forest is a lowland evergreen forest of high biodiversity value comprising significant populations of threatened species such as Talbotiella cheekii EN and Diospyros felicis EN, and rare herbs that grow on moist rocks (e.g. Heterotis pygmaea (EN) and Cincinnobotrys felicis (EN)).
Site description
Gallery forest and lowland evergreen forest situated in the north of Dubréka Prefecture. The forest is surrounded by village communities that illegally enter the area for excessive timber cutting. Bush fires and cattle grazing were observed on the plateau. The southern part of the forest suffers from illegal wood cutting by the local populations of Bawa and Balayah (Khorira Sous Prefecture). However, most of the forest in the northern and western valleys is intact due to the flow of water and vertical rocks on both sides making access very difficult. Here there is a closed canopy with open understorey throughout.
Gbélén means ‘valley’ in the local Susu language. This valley belongs to the old village of Bétayah that has now moved to the new village called Bawa, on the Dubréka-Tanènè road because of the easier access. The river Gbélén took its name from the valley it flows through.
Botanical significance
This is one of the most beautiful intact lowland evergreen forests that survives in the valleys of Dubréka Prefecture. Fed by several rivers which support the high biological diversity, notably populations of threatened species such as Talbotiella cheekii, Heterotis pygmaea, Diospyros feliciana, and Cincinnobotrys felicis. Forest trees of large circumference are still present and form a closed canopy over the area.
Habitat and geology
The valley and surrounding area consist of Ordovician quarzitic sandstone and oligomictic conglomerates. This is the same outcrop that continues towards Pita and the southern extent of the Fouta Djallon. The plateau has grasslands with forested valleys.
Conservation issues
A part of the forest has been illegally exploited by the local population since 2013. The excessive cutting of wood from the forest has resulted in the reduction of the quality and number of threatened species in the forest. The areas of grassland on the sandstone plateau above are subject to the effects of bushfires set for field clearance and growth of pasture for cattle. The forest found in the valleys in the north, east and west on both sides of the Gbélén valley are protected by the steep vertical rock faces.
Site assessor(s)
Pépé Haba, Guinée Biodiversité
Charlotte Couch, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Gbamon Konomou, Herbier National de Guinee
IPA criterion A species
| Species | Qualifying sub-criterion | ≥ 1% of global population | ≥ 5% of national population | 1 of 5 best sites nationally | Entire global population | Socio-economically important | Abundance at site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talbotiella cheekii Burgt | A(i) |  |
|
|
 |
|
Abundant |
| Heterotis pygmaea (A.Chev. & Jacq.-Fél.) Jacq.-Fél. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Abundant |
| Cincinnobotrys felicis (A.Chev.) Jacq.-Fél. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Abundant |
| Diospyros feliciana Letouzey & F.White | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Abundant |
| Tessmannia baikieaoides Hutch. & Dalziel | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Abundant |
| Baphia heudelotiana Baill. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Abundant |
| Apodiscus chevalieri Hutch. | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
Talbotiella cheekii Burgt
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Abundant
Heterotis pygmaea (A.Chev. & Jacq.-Fél.) Jacq.-Fél.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Abundant
Cincinnobotrys felicis (A.Chev.) Jacq.-Fél.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Abundant
Diospyros feliciana Letouzey & F.White
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Abundant
Tessmannia baikieaoides Hutch. & Dalziel
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Abundant
Baphia heudelotiana Baill.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Abundant
Apodiscus chevalieri Hutch.
Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
≥ 5% of national population:
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
Entire global population:
Socio-economically important:
Abundance at site:
Scarce
IPA criterion C qualifying habitats
| Habitat | Qualifying sub-criterion | ≥ 5% of national resource | ≥ 10% of national resource | 1 of 5 best sites nationally | Areal coverage at site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West African Lowland Evergreen Forest | C(iii) | |
|
|
West African Lowland Evergreen Forest
Qualifying sub-criterion:
C(iii)
≥ 5% of national resource:
≥ 10% of national resource:
Areal coverage at site:
General site habitats
| General site habitat | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest | |
Minor |
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Minor
Land use types
| Land use type | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Harvesting of wild resources | |
Major |
Harvesting of wild resources
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Threats
| Threat | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Medium | Ongoing - stable |
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture | Medium | Ongoing - increasing |
| Biological resource use - Logging & wood harvesting - Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest] | High | Ongoing - increasing |
Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - stable
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Biological resource use - Logging & wood harvesting - Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Management type
| Management type | Description | Year started | Year finished |
|---|---|---|---|
| No management plan in place | |
|
No management plan in place
Year started:
Year finished:
Bibliography
Flore (Angiospermes) de la République de Guinée.
Threatened plants species of Guinea-Conakry: A preliminary checklist
Peerj Preprints
IUCN Red List
Rapport de terrain de la forêt de Gbélén a Dubreka.
Recommended citation
Pépé Haba, Charlotte Couch, Gbamon Konomou (2024) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: Gbélén Forest (Guinea). https://tipas.kew.org/site/gbelen-forest/ (Accessed on 26/04/2024)