Country: Guinea
Administrative region: Tougué (Prefecture)
Central co-ordinates: 13.26972 N, 11.37972 W
Area: 27.5km²
Qualifying IPA Criteria
A(i)Site contains one or more globally threatened species, B(i)Site contains a high number of species within defined habitat or vegetation types, 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 rapids and waterfalls at Koukoutamba are the most species-rich known for Podostemaceae in Guinea with five species. It is the only known location in Guinea for the Critically Endangered (CR) Podostemaceae species Lebbiea grandiflora and the only global location for the spectacular new species Inversodicraea koukoutamba ined. These species are directly and imminently and imminently threatened with extinction from the planned hydroelectric dam. In addition the globally Endangered (EN) Stonesia taylorii and the Critically Endangered (CR) Barleria asterotricha are also present and threatened by the project.
Site description
The Koukoutamba Falls are on the Bafing River upriver from the main road N27 in Tougué Prefecture. It is a fast flowing area of rapids and waterfalls for around 12km below the main falls, the river is flanked by a thin strip of gallery forest dominated by Syzygium guineense var. guineense.
Botanical significance
The succession of fast flowing rapids and waterfalls at Koukoutamba on this stretch of the Bafing River is particularly rich in rheophyte species. It is the only known location in Guinea for the Critically Endangered Podostemaceae species Lebbiea grandiflora (newly described in 2018) and two other highly threatened species of Podostemaceae.
Habitat and geology
The Bafing River flows through a valley of sandstone, argillite interlayered with limestone and silica over conglomerate base rock. The unequal erosion is likely to be the cause of the rapids and waterfalls on the river. Narrow strips of gallery forest dominated by Syzygium guineense var. guineense are found either side of the river with bowal areas behind and seasonal gullies draining into the river.
Conservation issues
The Koukoutamba falls are threatened by the creation of a hydroelectric dam. Despite the falls being encompassed within the Moyen Bafing National Park, if construction is allowed upstream (outside of the park area) it will significantly alter the hydrology of the river and very likely cause silt deposits exterminating the threatened and in one case globally unique Podostemaceae species.
Site assessor(s)
Charlotte Couch, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Martin Cheek, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebbiea grandiflora Cheek | A(i) |  |
|
|
 |
|
Frequent |
| Inversodicraea harrisii (C.Cusset) Cheek | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Frequent |
| Stonesia taylorii C.Cusset | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Frequent |
| Inversodicraea koukoutamba Cheek | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Abundant |
| Barleria asterotricha Benoist | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Scarce |
Lebbiea grandiflora Cheek
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:
Frequent
Inversodicraea harrisii (C.Cusset) Cheek
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:
Frequent
Stonesia taylorii C.Cusset
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:
Frequent
Inversodicraea koukoutamba Cheek
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
Barleria asterotricha Benoist
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterfalls and Rapids | C(iii) | |
|
|
12 |
Waterfalls and Rapids
Qualifying sub-criterion:
C(iii)
≥ 5% of national resource:
≥ 10% of national resource:
Areal coverage at site:
12
General site habitats
| General site habitat | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers, Streams, Creeks [includes waterfalls] | |
Major |
| Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest | |
Unknown |
Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers, Streams, Creeks [includes waterfalls]
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Unknown
Threats
| Threat | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Climate change & severe weather - Droughts | Unknown | Future - inferred threat |
| Energy production & mining - Renewable energy | High | Future - planned activity |
Climate change & severe weather - Droughts
Severity:
Unknown
Timing:
Future - inferred threat
Energy production & mining - Renewable energy
Severity:
High
Timing:
Future - planned activity
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
Lebbiea (Podostemaceae-Podostemoideae), a new, nearly extinct genus with foliose tepals, in Sierra Leone.
PLoS ONE, Vol 13(10) Available online
PROJET D’AMÉNAGEMENT HYDROÉLECTRIQUE DE KOUKOUTAMBA
Recommended citation
Charlotte Couch, Martin Cheek (2024) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: Koukoutamba waterfalls (Guinea). https://tipas.kew.org/site/koukoutamba-waterfalls/ (Accessed on 13/10/2024)