Country: Cameroon
Administrative region: Southwest (Region)
Central co-ordinates: 4.14000 N, 9.17000 E
Area: 178km²
A(i)Site contains one or more globally threatened species
The site supports globally or nationally significant populations of as many as 60 globally threatened taxa (57 species), thereby qualifying as an IPA under criterion A(i).
On the eastern flanks of Mt Cameroon the existing national park boundary is mostly above 1400 m and runs as high as 2500 m in places, excluding most of the mid-lower slopes above Buea and Likombe. Together with the lower eastern and southern slopes of Mt Etinde, these degraded and threatened forests have recorded many threatened plant taxa and are here proposed as an important plant area. The area includes the Etinde and Woteva community forests as well as a strip connecting these and extending below the former to the southeast of Boando where numerous cinder cones retain some forest. In the northeast, a further section is included between the national park and the northeast boundary of the Woteva forest. The site lies in Fako division of Southwest Region, and straddles Muyaka and Buea subdivisions.
Mount Cameroon has been an important collecting site for botanists since the nineteenth century, and many expeditions have been made from the towns of Buea and Limbe on the eastern side of the mountain. These have resulted in numerous rare or range-restricted species being recorded from this area (Cable & Cheek, 1998). Some of these are endemic to Mt Cameroon such as Angraecopsis cryptantha (VU), only recorded from this site at 2000 m, and Liparis kamerunensis (CR) which is endemic to upper Mt Cameroon, most recently collected from grassland and cloud forest within this site at c. 2000 m (the type specimen may have been recorded also from this site or perhaps within the National Park). Other important taxa occur at additional mountain sites along the Cameroon Volcanic Line, such as Habenaria thomana (VU), Palisota preussiana (VU) and Tiliacora lehmbachii (EN) all otherwise known only from Mt Kupe.
Because of the expansion of Buea, confirmation is needed of the continued presence of some taxa. Disperis kamerunensis (CR) may have been lost from the Buea collection site but is included here since the only other record is close to the border of this TIPA within the national park. Coleus dissitiflorus (CR) has only been recorded from near Buea over 130 years ago and may not survive.
The lower slopes of Mt Etinde and cinder cones around Boando are included within this site and are important for many taxa, such as Ardisia etindensis (CR), a lowland species otherwise only recorded near Eseka, and Cola metallica (CR).
Although the southwestern side of Mt Cameroon is one of the wettest places in the world, the eastern slopes of Mt Cameroon are drier due to the rain shadow effect: at Molyko, a suburb of Buea below the proposed boundary of this IPA at 620 m, annual mean precipitation is 2-3 m compared to nearly 10 m at Debundscha (Fraser et al., 1998). There is a seasonal climate with >100 mm precipiation from April to November (peaking in August), and <50 mm in December, January and February as the inter-tropical convergence zone moves south and the northerly Harmattan wind prevails bringing dry dusty air from the Sahara (Fraser et al., 1998, data for 1984-1993). At the south of the site precipitation is higher, with nearly 5 m a year on average at Mokundange on the coast below Mt Etinde, and >1 m mean for July and August when there is rain nearly every day.
Maximum and minimum monthly temperatures vary little around means of 24.4 and 19.1 °C respectively, although maxima drop slightly in the rainy season (data for Tole, south of Buea, at c. 630 m, years 1970-76 & 1983-1993).
Mt Cameroon is the highest mountain in West or Central Africa, 1000 m higher than Mt Oku further north along the Cameroon Volcanic Line. It is an active strato-volcano of mainly alkali basalt and basanite overlying uplifted Cretacious to Quaternary sediments and Precambrian metamorphic basement rocks (Dereulle et al, 1987; Mathieu et al., 2011). While surface lavas are variously interpreted as ancient to recent (Ateba, 2000; Fitton, 1983), all dated samples are <3 Ma (Marzoli et al., 2000; Wembenyui et al. 2020). There have been several historical eruptions but only two have left lava fields within the proposed IPA, the 1959 eruption on the northeastern flank which descended towards Ekona Mbengue, and the 2000 eruption south of the summit which descended the southeastern side to c.2000 m (Njome et al., 2008; Ateba et al., 2009; Geiger et al., 2016). The nephelinitic lavas of Mt Etinde are distinct and unusual but not necessarily more ancient as was once thought (Nkoumbou et al, 1995; Ntoumbe et al., 2016). Landslides and block falls are common (Thierry et al., 2008) and a large fan of lahars is mapped north of Buea by Ataba et al. (2009). Many cinder cones are also found in the southern part of the site around Boando.
With the exception of recent flows and the Etinde lavas, the soils of Mt Cameroon are mostly highly fertile and targeted by farmers (Courade, 1974). Because of rejuvination by ash fall on the upper slopes, soil fertility does not fall with increasing altitude as on other tropical mountains due to leaching; organic content is positively correlated with altitude due to reduced temperature (lapse rate of 0.6 degrees C per 100 m; Proctor et al., 2007). According to Payton (1993) the andisols of the eastern slopes are much deeper and more fertile than the older, leached lowland soils below 600 m on the south and western sides.
Several different vegetation types have been distinguished within the national park area (Letouzey 1968, 1981; Thomas & Cheek, 1992; Maley & Brenac 1998; Cable & Cheek, 1999). The site proposed here includes mainly montane forest and submontane (discontinuous canopy) forest, and montane grassland and scrub. The montane forest contains trees of considerable size for the altitude (particularly Schefflera and Syzygium spp.), probably explained by the comparatively fertile, well-drained soils and high organic content (Payton et al., 1993).
Forest gives way to grasland between 2000 and 2500 m but the level of the tree line is heavily impacted by fire (natural and anthropogenic) and volcanic eruptions (Proctor et al., 2007).
The site is under pressure from farming and logging related to the expansion of communities around Buea (KBA Partnership, 2020). Agro-plantations attract migrant workers, increasing the demand for land and fuelwood (MINFOF, 2014). Two community forests are included within the site boundary, Etinde and Woteva. While much heralded for integrating local people with conservation and sustainable development, the success of community forests in Cameroon has been mixed (Ngalim & Terence, 2016, Minang et al., 2019). At nearby Bimbia-Bonadikombo, forest loss has continued without apparent benefit to the community as a whole (Nkemenyi, 2016; Adeyanju, 2017). There is some indication that Woteva has been more successful in benefitting the community and there have been some reforestation efforts at Etinde and Woteva (Ngang et al., 2018; Piabuo, 2018; Adeline, 2015).
The treeline around 2000-2500 m is largely shaped by volcanic disruption and fire, including anthropogenic burning, rather than climate (Proctor et al., 2007). Fire, often started by hunters, is a major threat to the montane and submonane forests, and montane grassland, particularly because of the free-draining, drought-prone soils with few permanent rivers or springs (Payton 1993; IBA Partnership, 2020). This could also render them particularly vulnerable to climate change reducing precipitation and cloud cover.
The main tourist routes to the summit of Mt Cameroon run up through these eastern slopes, bringing business to the communities below. Tourist value is partly dependent on the forest and wildlife it supports but supplemented by volcanic landmarks and nearby historical sites. The proposed IPA is part of an IBA, KBA and AZE site, with a rich fauna including 210 bird species (of which two are strictly endemic, Zosterops melanocephalus, VU, and Pternistis camerunensis, EN); two endemic shrews (Crocidura eisentrauti, VU, and Sylvisorex morio, EN) and two endemic rodents (Otomys burtoni, EN, and Lophuromys roseveari). It is one of very few sites in western Cameroon with remaining forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis, CR, estimated at 130 individuals, MINFOF, 2014) and is also important for Allochrocebus preussi (EN).
The slopes are prone to landslides. Protection of forest vegetation is likely to mitigate this risk and that of flash flooding (Payton, 1993; Thierry et al., 2008), while regulating fresh water supply.
The forest supplies an array of timber and non-timber forest products, including many medicines that are important in local villages where commercial medicines are often unaffordable (Focho et al., 2010; Fongod et al., 2013).
Bruce Murphy, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Neoschumannia kamerunensis Schltr. | A(i) | ||||||
Chassalia laikomensis Cheek | A(i), A(iii) | ||||||
Liparis kamerunensis Schltr. | A(i) | ||||||
Ardisia etindensis Taton | A(i) | ||||||
Disperis kamerunensis Schltr. | A(i) | ||||||
Microberlinia bisulcata A.Chev. | A(i) | ||||||
Aframomum | A(i) | ||||||
Dactyladenia mannii (Oliv.) Prance & F.White | A(i) | ||||||
Cola praecuta Brenan & Keay | A(i) | ||||||
Andropogon pusillus Hook.f. | A(i) | ||||||
Ormocarpum klainei Tisser. | A(i) | ||||||
Tiliacora lehmbachii Engl. | A(i) | ||||||
Peperomia kamerunana C.D.C | A(i) | ||||||
Pavetta brachycalyx Hiern | A(i) | ||||||
Habenaria batesii la Croix | A(i) | ||||||
Impatiens etindensis Cheek & Eb.Fisch. | A(i) | ||||||
Sabicea xanthotricha Wernham | A(i) | ||||||
Afzelia bipindensis Harms | A(i) | ||||||
Entandrophragma angolense (Welw.) C.DC. | A(i) | ||||||
Uvariodendron giganteum (Engl.) R.E.Fr. | A(i) | ||||||
Calycosiphonia macrochlamys (K.Schum.) Robbr. | A(i) | ||||||
Salacia volubilis Loes. & H.J.P.Winkl. | A(i) | ||||||
Leeuwenbergia letestui Letouzey & N.Hallé | A(i) | ||||||
Palisota preussiana K.Schum. ex C.B.Clarke | A(i) | ||||||
Amorphophallus preussii (Engl.) N.E.Br. | A(i) | ||||||
Xylopia africana (Benth.) Oliv. | A(i) | ||||||
Angraecopsis cryptantha P.J.Cribb | A(i) | ||||||
Begonia oxyanthera Warb. | A(i) | ||||||
Oncoba lophocarpa Oliv. | A(i) | ||||||
Aneilema silvaticum Brenan | A(i) | ||||||
Lophira alata Banks ex Gaertn.f. | A(i) | ||||||
Acanthopale decempedalis C.B.Clarke | A(i) | ||||||
Bulbophyllum bifarium Hook.f. | A(i) | ||||||
Habenaria thomana Rchb.f. | A(i) | ||||||
Calochone acuminata Keay | A(i) | ||||||
Ixora foliosa Hiern | A(i) | ||||||
Allophylus bullatus Radlk. | A(i), A(iii) | ||||||
Dorstenia prorepens Engl. | A(i) | ||||||
Schefflera hierniana Harms | A(i) | ||||||
Oxyanthus montanus Sonké | A(i) | ||||||
Polystachya albescens Ridl. subsp. angustifolia (Summerh.) Summerh. | A(i) | ||||||
Uvariopsis zenkeri Engl. | A(i) | ||||||
Panicum acrotrichum Hook.f. | A(i) | ||||||
Globimetula oreophila (Oliv.) Tiegh. | A(i) | ||||||
Diaphananthe bueae (Schltr.) Schltr. | A(i) | ||||||
Polystachya superposita Rchb.f. | A(i) | ||||||
Dicliptera alternans Lindau | A(i) | ||||||
Pseuderanthemum dispermum Milne-Redh. | A(i) | ||||||
Sclerochiton preussii (Lindau) C.B.Clarke | A(i) | ||||||
Tiliacora lehmbachii Engl. | A(i) | ||||||
Stenandrium thomense (Milne-Redh.) Vollesen | A(i) | ||||||
Coleus dissitiflorus Gürke | A(i) | ||||||
Cola metallica Cheek | A(i) | ||||||
Dactyladenia gilletii (De Wild.) Prance & F.White | A(i) | ||||||
Psychotria asterogramma O.Lachenaud | A(i) | ||||||
Aframomum plicatum D.J.Harris & Wortley | A(i) | ||||||
Angraecum sanfordii P.J.Cribb & B.J.Pollard | A(i) | ||||||
Deinbollia pycnophylla Gilg ex Engl. | A(i) | ||||||
Hymenocoleus glaber Robbr. | A(i) | ||||||
Ixora delicatula Keay | A(i) | ||||||
Ixora delicatula Keay | A(i) | ||||||
Begonia rubromarginata Gilg | A(i) | ||||||
Sabicea urbaniana Wernham | A(iv) |
Neoschumannia kamerunensis Schltr.
Chassalia laikomensis Cheek
Liparis kamerunensis Schltr.
Ardisia etindensis Taton
Disperis kamerunensis Schltr.
Microberlinia bisulcata A.Chev.
Aframomum
Dactyladenia mannii (Oliv.) Prance & F.White
Cola praecuta Brenan & Keay
Andropogon pusillus Hook.f.
Ormocarpum klainei Tisser.
Tiliacora lehmbachii Engl.
Peperomia kamerunana C.D.C
Pavetta brachycalyx Hiern
Habenaria batesii la Croix
Impatiens etindensis Cheek & Eb.Fisch.
Sabicea xanthotricha Wernham
Afzelia bipindensis Harms
Entandrophragma angolense (Welw.) C.DC.
Uvariodendron giganteum (Engl.) R.E.Fr.
Calycosiphonia macrochlamys (K.Schum.) Robbr.
Salacia volubilis Loes. & H.J.P.Winkl.
Leeuwenbergia letestui Letouzey & N.Hallé
Palisota preussiana K.Schum. ex C.B.Clarke
Amorphophallus preussii (Engl.) N.E.Br.
Xylopia africana (Benth.) Oliv.
Angraecopsis cryptantha P.J.Cribb
Begonia oxyanthera Warb.
Oncoba lophocarpa Oliv.
Aneilema silvaticum Brenan
Lophira alata Banks ex Gaertn.f.
Acanthopale decempedalis C.B.Clarke
Bulbophyllum bifarium Hook.f.
Habenaria thomana Rchb.f.
Calochone acuminata Keay
Ixora foliosa Hiern
Allophylus bullatus Radlk.
Dorstenia prorepens Engl.
Schefflera hierniana Harms
Oxyanthus montanus Sonké
Polystachya albescens Ridl. subsp. angustifolia (Summerh.) Summerh.
Uvariopsis zenkeri Engl.
Panicum acrotrichum Hook.f.
Globimetula oreophila (Oliv.) Tiegh.
Diaphananthe bueae (Schltr.) Schltr.
Polystachya superposita Rchb.f.
Dicliptera alternans Lindau
Pseuderanthemum dispermum Milne-Redh.
Sclerochiton preussii (Lindau) C.B.Clarke
Tiliacora lehmbachii Engl.
Stenandrium thomense (Milne-Redh.) Vollesen
Coleus dissitiflorus Gürke
Cola metallica Cheek
Dactyladenia gilletii (De Wild.) Prance & F.White
Psychotria asterogramma O.Lachenaud
Aframomum plicatum D.J.Harris & Wortley
Angraecum sanfordii P.J.Cribb & B.J.Pollard
Deinbollia pycnophylla Gilg ex Engl.
Hymenocoleus glaber Robbr.
Ixora delicatula Keay
Ixora delicatula Keay
Begonia rubromarginata Gilg
Sabicea urbaniana Wernham
General site habitat | Percent coverage | Importance |
---|---|---|
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest | 60 | Major |
Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Grassland | 20 | Major |
Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Shrubland | 20 | Major |
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest
Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Grassland
Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude Shrubland
Threat | Severity | Timing |
---|---|---|
Residential & commercial development - Housing & urban areas | Medium | Future - inferred threat |
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture | High | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Biological resource use - Logging & wood harvesting | High | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity | High | Ongoing - trend unknown |
Residential & commercial development - Housing & urban areas
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture
Biological resource use - Logging & wood harvesting
Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity
Protected area name | Protected area type | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
---|---|---|---|
Etinde Community Forest; Woteva Community forest | Forest Reserve (production) | IPA encompasses protected/conservation area | 38 |
Mount Cameroon National Park | National Park | protected/conservation area is adjacent to IPA |
Etinde Community Forest; Woteva Community forest
Mount Cameroon National Park
Designation name | Protected area | Relationship with IPA | Areal overlap |
---|---|---|---|
Mount Cameroon and Mokoko-Onge | Important Bird Area | protected/conservation area overlaps with IPA | 135 |
Mount Cameroon and Mokoko-Onge | Key Biodiversity Area | protected/conservation area overlaps with IPA | 135 |
Mount Cameroon and Mokoko-Onge | Alliance for Zero Extinction Site | protected/conservation area overlaps with IPA | 135 |
Mount Cameroon and Mokoko-Onge
Mount Cameroon and Mokoko-Onge
Mount Cameroon and Mokoko-Onge
Management type | Description | Year started | Year finished |
---|---|---|---|
Site management plan in place | A management plan for the neighbouring National Park succeeding that expiring in 2019 has not been seen but is likely to exist |
Site management plan in place
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