Ziama Massif

Massif de Ziama

GUITIPA022
Ziama site in Guinea

Country: Guinea

Administrative region: Macenta (Prefecture)

Central co-ordinates: 8.26583 N, 9.34528 W

Area: 1161.7km²

Qualifying IPA Criteria

A(i)Site contains one or more globally threatened species, B(ii)Site contains an exceptional number of species of high conservation importance, 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 Ziama mountain range comprises a rich matrix of sub-montane forest punctuated by granite inselbergs, grading into lowland evergreen forest. This supports a wide range of plant species including two global endemic species (Mikaniopsis camarae and Inversodicraea pepehabai) and 33 range-restricted species. It has one of the largest areas of intact submontane forest in the country and a significant area of lowland rainforest, albeit disturbed. There are significant populations of many threatened plant species found here. The Ziama classified forest has several villages within the southern, lowland forest portion, and there are concerns over forest clearance both recent and during past periods of instability. Although Ziama is already a biosphere reserve there are no specific management actions for plant species.

Site description

The Ziama classified forest, located in the prefecture of Macenta in Guinée Forestière, consists of a mountain range aligned approximately southwest to northeast, with submontane forest and granite inselbergs with grassland. On both sides of the mountain range there are areas of lowland evergreen forest. The area is crossed by rivers with white water, habitat for Podostemaceae species.

Botanical significance

Due to the variation and intactness of the vegetation types in this area, there is an exceptional botanical richness in Ziama Classified Forest. Thirty three rare, threatened and/or endemic plant species have been documented, including Cassipourea adamii (EN) in submontane forest, Tarenna hutchinsonii (CR) and Gymnosiphon samoritoureanus (EN) in the lowland forest, and Inversodicraea pepehabai (EN) an endemic species to the fast flowing rivers.

Habitat and geology

Ziama consists of a dolerite/orthogneiss mountain range, mostly covered in lowland and sub-montane forest. The inselbergs have open vegetation with woodland, wooded grassland, grassland, and open rocky areas. The lowland forest areas surrounding the mountain range are mostly on Archean era base rock.

Conservation issues

In the lowland forest area there are villages enclaved and there have been concerns about forest clearance. Large areas of lowland have been converted into monospecific tree plantations usually of Terminalia sp. In the submontane forest there are plantations of tea and Cinchona, there are concerns that these may restart production. Ziama is presumably frequently visited by local hunters, which will have reduced the density of many animal species, and this in turn could negatively affect some plant species. Collection of Piper guineensis by poachers involves cutting trees down to get to the liana.

Site assessor(s)

Charlotte Couch, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

Pépé Haba, Guinée Biodiversité

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
Brachystephanus jaundensis Lindau subsp. nimbae (Heine) I.Darbysh. A(i) True True True False False Scarce
Bryaspis humularioides Gledhill A(i) True True True False False Scarce
Cassia aubrevillei Pellegr. A(i) True True True False False Scarce
Cassipourea adamii Jacq.-Fél. A(i) True True True False False Scarce
Cryptosepalum tetraphyllum (Hook.f.) Benth. A(i) False False False False False Scarce
Dalbergia adamii Berhaut A(i) True True True False False Scarce
Dorstenia astyanactis Aké Assi A(i) True True True False False Scarce
Drypetes afzelii (Pax) Hutch. A(i) True True True False False Unknown
Entandrophragma candollei Harms A(i) False False True False True Unknown
Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sprague) Sprague A(i) False False True False True Unknown
Entandrophragma utile (Dawe & Sprague) Sprague A(i) False False True False True Unknown
Garcinia kola Heckel A(i) False False True False True Unknown
Genlisea barthlottii S.Porembski, Eb.Fisch. & Gemmel A(i) True False True False False Scarce
Gladiolus praecostatus Marais A(i) True True True False False Occasional
Heterotis sylvestris  (Jacq.-Fél.) Jacq.-Fél. A(i) True True True False False Scarce
Hymenocoleus multinervis Robbr. A(i) True True True False False Unknown
Inversodicraea pepehabai Cheek A(i) True True True True False Occasional
Mikaniopsis camarae Lisowski A(i) True True True True False Scarce
Milicia regia (A.Chev.) C.C.Berg A(i) False False True False True Unknown
Monocymbium lanceolatum C.E.Hubb. A(i) True True False False False Unknown
Mostuea adamii Sillans A(i) True True True False False Unknown
Nemum bulbostyloides (Hooper) J.Raynal A(i) True False False False False Unknown
Neolemonniera clitandrifolia A.Chev. A(i) True True True False False Scarce
Osbeckia praviantha Jacq.-Fél. A(i) True True True False False Unknown
Pauridiantha schnellii N.Hallé A(i) True True True False False Unknown
Rinorea djalonensis A.Chev. A(i) True True True False False Unknown
Salacighia linderi (Harms) Blakelock A(i) True True True False False Unknown
Tarenna hutchinsonii Bremek. A(i) True True True False False Scarce
Psychotria samoritourei Cheek A(i) True True True False False Unknown
Vepris felicis Breteler A(i) True True True False False Scarce
Omphalocarpum ahia A.Chev. A(i) False False True False False Unknown
Placodiscus riparius Keay A(i) False False True False False Unknown

Brachystephanus jaundensis Lindau subsp. nimbae (Heine) I.Darbysh.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Bryaspis humularioides Gledhill

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Cassia aubrevillei Pellegr.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Cassipourea adamii Jacq.-Fél.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Cryptosepalum tetraphyllum (Hook.f.) Benth.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
False
≥ 5% of national population:
False
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
False
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Dalbergia adamii Berhaut

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Dorstenia astyanactis Aké Assi

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Drypetes afzelii (Pax) Hutch.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Entandrophragma candollei Harms

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
False
≥ 5% of national population:
False
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
True
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sprague) Sprague

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
False
≥ 5% of national population:
False
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
True
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Entandrophragma utile (Dawe & Sprague) Sprague

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
False
≥ 5% of national population:
False
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
True
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Garcinia kola Heckel

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
False
≥ 5% of national population:
False
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
True
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Genlisea barthlottii S.Porembski, Eb.Fisch. & Gemmel

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
False
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Gladiolus praecostatus Marais

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Occasional

Heterotis sylvestris  (Jacq.-Fél.) Jacq.-Fél.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Hymenocoleus multinervis Robbr.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Inversodicraea pepehabai Cheek

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
True
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Occasional

Mikaniopsis camarae Lisowski

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
True
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Milicia regia (A.Chev.) C.C.Berg

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
False
≥ 5% of national population:
False
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
True
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Monocymbium lanceolatum C.E.Hubb.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
False
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Mostuea adamii Sillans

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Nemum bulbostyloides (Hooper) J.Raynal

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
False
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
False
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Neolemonniera clitandrifolia A.Chev.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Osbeckia praviantha Jacq.-Fél.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Pauridiantha schnellii N.Hallé

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Rinorea djalonensis A.Chev.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Salacighia linderi (Harms) Blakelock

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Tarenna hutchinsonii Bremek.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Psychotria samoritourei Cheek

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Vepris felicis Breteler

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
True
≥ 5% of national population:
True
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Scarce

Omphalocarpum ahia A.Chev.

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
False
≥ 5% of national population:
False
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Unknown

Placodiscus riparius Keay

Qualifying sub-criterion:
A(i)
≥ 1% of global population:
False
≥ 5% of national population:
False
1 of 5 best sites nationally:
True
Entire global population:
False
Socio-economically important:
False
Abundance at site:
Unknown

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) False True True
Guinean Highland Submontane Forest C(iii) False True True
Granite Inselbergs C(iii) False True True

West African Lowland Evergreen Forest

Qualifying sub-criterion:
C(iii)
≥ 5% of national resource:
False
≥ 10% of national resource:
True
Areal coverage at site:

Guinean Highland Submontane Forest

Qualifying sub-criterion:
C(iii)
≥ 5% of national resource:
False
≥ 10% of national resource:
True
Areal coverage at site:

Granite Inselbergs

Qualifying sub-criterion:
C(iii)
≥ 5% of national resource:
False
≥ 10% of national resource:
True
Areal coverage at site:

General site habitats

General site habitat Percent coverage Importance
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest No value Minor
Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest No value Major
Rocky Areas - Rocky Areas [e.g. inland cliffs, mountain peaks] No value Minor

Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest

Percent coverage:
No value
Importance:
Minor

Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane Forest

Percent coverage:
No value
Importance:
Major

Rocky Areas - Rocky Areas [e.g. inland cliffs, mountain peaks]

Percent coverage:
No value
Importance:
Minor

Land use types

Land use type Percent coverage Importance
Nature conservation No value Major

Nature conservation

Percent coverage:
No value
Importance:
Major

Threats

Threat Severity Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture Medium Ongoing - declining
Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming Low Ongoing - declining
Biological resource use - Gathering terrestrial plants - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) Low Ongoing - stable
Biological resource use - Logging & wood harvesting Low Ongoing - stable

Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture

Severity:
Medium
Timing:
Ongoing - declining

Agriculture & aquaculture - Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming

Severity:
Low
Timing:
Ongoing - declining

Biological resource use - Gathering terrestrial plants - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)

Severity:
Low
Timing:
Ongoing - stable

Biological resource use - Logging & wood harvesting

Severity:
Low
Timing:
Ongoing - stable

Protected areas

Protected area name Protected area type Relationship with IPA Areal overlap
Massif du Ziama National Reserve protected/conservation area matches IPA 1162

Massif du Ziama

Protected area type:
National Reserve
Relationship with IPA:
protected/conservation area matches IPA
Areal overlap:
1162

Conservation designation

Designation name Protected area Relationship with IPA Areal overlap
Massif du Ziama Important Bird Area protected/conservation area matches IPA No value

Massif du Ziama

Protected area:
Important Bird Area
Relationship with IPA:
protected/conservation area matches IPA
Areal overlap:
No value

Management type

Management type Description Year started Year finished
Protected Area management plan in place The forest was originally classified in 1942 and is a Reserve integrale. In addition it was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve (Massif du Ziama) in 1980. A management plan exists for this area, but the extent is unknown. According to a Birdlife International Assessment in 2007, it is out of date and not well implemented. No value No value

Protected Area management plan in place

The forest was originally classified in 1942 and is a Reserve integrale. In addition it was designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve (Massif du Ziama) in 1980. A management plan exists for this area, but the extent is unknown. According to a Birdlife International Assessment in 2007, it is out of date and not well implemented.
Year started:
No value
Year finished:
No value

Bibliography

Couch, C., Magassouba, S., Rokni, S. & Cheek, M., 2018

Threatened plants species of Guinea-Conakry: A preliminary checklist

Peerj Preprints

UNESCO, 2011

Man and Biospheres Directory: Massif du Ziama

Available online

BirdLife International, 2001

Important Bird Areas factsheet: Massif du Ziama

Available online

Haba, P., 2017

Rapport de terrain Darwin Mt Ziama Fevrier 2017

Available online

Haba, P., 2016

Rapport de terrain Darwin Mt Ziama et FCM Bamakana Dec 2016

Available online

Recommended citation

Charlotte Couch, Pépé Haba, Martin Cheek (2024) Tropical Important Plant Areas Explorer: Ziama Massif (Guinea). https://tipas.kew.org/site/ziama-massif/ (Accessed on 07/11/2024)