Country: Guinea
Administrative region: Kindia (Prefecture)
Central co-ordinates: 9.89611 N, 12.60139 W
Area: 7km²
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
Lowland ferralitic bowal is a threatened habitat type in Guinea. It can support a high diversity of herbaceous species as well as threatened, rare species: Nymphoides guineensis in temporary pools. The Simbaraya bowé is a good example of this habitat type which is under threat in Guinea from mining, gravel extraction, overgrazing, and housing.
Site description
Ferrallitic ironstone bowal area south of the village of Simbaraya in Kindia Prefecture. It is located along the road leading south to Madina Oula (and Sierra Leone). The bowé are surrounded by wooded grassland and there are small wooded islands, temporary ponds and marshes within them.
Botanical significance
Ironstone bowal has a different species composition to bauxite or pure sandstone bowal, though has similar microhabitats present. The bowal at Simbaraya has small ponds with Nymphoides guineensis, grassland with depressions, and wooded islands. There is a species high diversity at this locality. Lowland ferrallitic bowal is a recognised Threatened Habitat type in Guinea and is under threat from mining activities, as the iron is close to the surface.
Habitat and geology
The concretised iron pan is impermeable causing flooding in the rainy season and the formation of temporary marshes. The thin soils support grasses and herbs, either annual species or with tubers to survive the dry season
Conservation issues
Currently no lowland lateritic (ferrallitic) bowal is protected in Guinea. This habitat is threatened by mining, gravel extraction and housing. There is also cattle grazing in the area and fires are set by pastoralist farmers for new grass shoots in the dry season.
Site assessor(s)
Assessed by:
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilophotriche occidentalis Jacq.-Fél. | A(i) |  |
|
|
|
|
|
| Nymphoides guineensis A.Raynal | A(i) | |
|
|
|
|
Dilophotriche occidentalis 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:
Nymphoides guineensis A.Raynal
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:
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Altitude Lateritic Bowal Grasslands | C(iii) | |
|
|
Low Altitude Lateritic Bowal Grasslands
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded Lowland Grassland | |
Major |
Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded Lowland Grassland
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Major
Land use types
| Land use type | Percent coverage | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture (pastoral) | |
Unknown |
Agriculture (pastoral)
Percent coverage:
Importance:
Unknown
Threats
| Threat | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Residential & commercial development - Housing & urban areas | Unknown | Future - inferred threat |
| Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying | Medium | Ongoing - stable |
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | High | Ongoing - increasing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Nomadic grazing | High | Ongoing - increasing |
| Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Medium | Ongoing - increasing |
Residential & commercial development - Housing & urban areas
Severity:
Unknown
Timing:
Future - inferred threat
Energy production & mining - Mining & quarrying
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - stable
Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Agriculture & aquaculture - Livestock farming & ranching - Nomadic grazing
Severity:
High
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Natural system modifications - Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity
Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - increasing
Bibliography
Flore (Angiospermes) de la République de Guinée.
Threatened plants species of Guinea-Conakry: A preliminary checklist
Peerj Preprints
IUCN Red List
Recommended citation
Charlotte Couch, Martin Cheek (2025) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: Simbaraya Ferralitic Bowe (Guinea). https://tipas.kew.org/site/simbaraya-ferralitic-bowe/ (Accessed on 15/01/2025)