Guinean forest–savanna mosaic

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Guinean forest–savanna mosaic
Kenema-Kailahun Road.jpg
Ecoregion AT0707.svg
Map of the Guinean forest–savanna mosaic ecoregion
Ecology
Realm Afrotropical
Biome tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Borders
Geography
Area668,905 km2 (258,266 sq mi)
Countries
Conservation
Conservation status Critical/endangered
Protected107,116 km² (16%) [1]

The Guinean forest-savanna mosaic, also known as the Guinean forest-savanna transition, is a distinctive ecological region located in West Africa. [2] [3] It stretches across several countries including Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon. This region is characterized by a unique blend of forested areas and savannas, creating a diverse and dynamic landscape.

Contents

It is an ecoregion of West Africa, a band of interlaced forest, savanna, and grassland running east to west and dividing the tropical moist forests near the coast from the West Sudanian savanna of the interior.

Setting

The Guinean forest–savanna mosaic covers an area of 673,600 square kilometers (260,100 sq mi), extending from western Senegal to eastern Nigeria, and including portions of Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Cameroon. [4] The Cameroon Highlands of eastern Nigeria and Cameroon separate the Guinean forest–savanna mosaic from the Northern Congolian forest–savanna mosaic, which lies to the east. [5] The Dahomey Gap is a region of Togo and Benin where the forest-savanna mosaic extends to the coast, and separates the Upper Guinean forests of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana from the Lower Guinean forests of Nigeria and Cameroon. [6]

Climate

The climate in this region varies depending on the specific location, but it generally experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. [7] The wet season brings heavy rainfall, while the dry season is characterized by lower precipitation and drier conditions. This ecoregion is situated in the humid tropical savanna zone, where the average yearly high temperatures range from 30 to 33°C and the lows range from 14 to 21°C. The annual rainfall typically falls between 1,600 and 2,000 mm, although there are areas in the Dahomey Gap that receive 1,000 mm or less annually. [4] [8]

The Guinean forest-savanna mosaic represents a critical ecological transition zone between the dense, evergreen rainforests to the south and the more open, tree-dotted savannas to the north. This transition creates a unique mix of plant and animal species adapted to varying ecological conditions. [9] Like many ecosystems worldwide, the Guinean forest-savanna mosaic is susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Altered rainfall patterns, increased temperatures, and more frequent extreme weather events have affected the health and composition of this biome. [10] [11]

Biodiversity

The Guinean forest–savanna mosaic is known for its high biological diversity. [12] It is home to a wide range of plant and animal species, including many endemic species that are found nowhere else in the world. Some iconic species found here include chimpanzees, pygmy hippos, forest elephants, and various species of primates and birds. They also include several species of primates, reptiles, amphibians, and plants that have evolved in isolation within this region. [13]

Vegetation

Flora

Woodland in Guinea Savanna Woodland in Guinea Savanna.JPG
Woodland in Guinea Savanna

This biome is characterized by a mix of forested areas and open savannas. [20] It is often referred to as a mosaic because it consists of a patchwork of different vegetation types. [21] In the forested areas, you can find a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees, while the savanna regions feature grasslands and scattered trees. [22] In terms of plant life, it contains a mix of tree species such as mahogany, iroko, and various species of acacia, alongside grasses and shrubs common to savannas. The region is mainly grassland crossed with trees growing alongside streams and on hillsides, with the constantly occurring fires keeping back the growth of trees in open country. [4] Lophira lanceolata is one of the tree species found that is more resistant to fire than many others. [23]

Fauna

The mixture of forest and grassland provide habitat for a range of species from large mammals [24] such as African leopard, forest elephants, hippopotamus and antelopes such as the red-flanked duiker to the common tortoise as well as more localised species including patas monkeys and Ghana worm lizards ( Amphisbaenia ). [25] The wetlands in the region are rich in birdlife, including iris glossy starling and black crowned crane. [26]

Human settlement

The ecoregion covers large areas of many West African nations including:

Threats and Conservation

Like many tropical ecosystems, this mosaic is under threat from various human activities. [40] Deforestation due to logging, agriculture expansion, and mining operations pose significant challenges to its conservation. Additionally, infrastructure development and road construction can fragment habitats, making it difficult for wildlife to move between different areas. [41] [42]

Conservation Initiatives

Conservation organizations and governments in the region have recognized the importance of preserving the Guinean forest-savanna mosaic. [52] Efforts have been made to establish protected areas and national parks, such as Taï National Park in Ivory Coast and Gola Rainforest National Park in Sierra Leone and Liberia. [53] [54]

Protected areas

The Guinean forest-savanna mosaic is a biologically diverse and ecologically significant region in West Africa. [55] Its unique blend of forest and savanna habitats, along with its endemic species, make it an area of global importance for conservation efforts. [56] [57] A 2017 assessment found that 107,116 km2, or 16%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. [1] Protected areas include Upper Niger National Park in Guinea, [58] Dulombi-Boe National Park in Guinea-Bissau, [59] Outamba-Kilimi National Park in Sierra Leone, [60] Mont Sangbé National Park in Ivory Coast, [61] Bui National Park and Digya National Park in Ghana, [62] and Old Oyo National Park and Gashaka-Gumti National Park in Nigeria. [63] [64]

Research and Monitoring

Scientists and researchers are actively studying this region to better understand its ecological dynamics, species distribution, and responses to environmental changes. [65] Some key aspects of this research and monitoring initiative includes:

  1. Ecosystem Description
    • Biodiversity: The Guinean forest-savanna mosaic is renowned for its high biodiversity, supporting a wide variety of plant and animal species. [66] This region is home to several endangered and endemic species, such as chimpanzees, pygmy hippos, and various rare plants.
    • Ecotone: It is an ecotone, which means it's the transition zone between two major biomes: the dense tropical rainforests to the south and the open savannas to the north. [67] This unique blend of habitats contributes to its ecological significance.
  2. Research Goals
    • Biodiversity Assessment: Researchers aim to conduct comprehensive surveys to document the plant and animal species in the region. This includes identifying and cataloging both common and rare species, which helps in understanding the ecosystem's overall health. [68]
    • Ecosystem Dynamics: Investigating the interactions between the forest and savanna components, such as how fires and land use changes affect the balance between these two ecosystems. [69]
    • Conservation Status: Assessing the conservation status of key species and identifying threats, such as habitat loss, poaching, and climate change, to develop effective conservation strategies. [70]
    • Indigenous Knowledge: Collaborating with local communities to tap into their indigenous knowledge about the ecosystem and its conservation. [71] This local knowledge is invaluable for understanding the region's dynamics.
  3. Monitoring and Data Collection
    • Camera Traps: Researchers often use camera traps to capture images of wildlife in the area. This technology allows for non-intrusive monitoring of elusive species. [72] [73]
    • Remote Sensing: Satellite imagery and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) are used to monitor land cover changes, deforestation, and the expansion of agriculture in the region. [74] [75]
    • Field Surveys: Ecologists and biologists conduct field surveys to collect data on plant and animal populations, habitat quality, and ecological processes. [68] [75]
    • Weather and Climate Data: Monitoring meteorological and climate data helps understand how changing weather patterns impact the ecosystem. [76]
  4. Conservation and Policy Implications
    • Protected Areas: Research findings often lead to the creation or expansion of protected areas or national parks. [77] These areas help conserve the unique biodiversity found in the Guinean forest-savanna mosaic.
    • Community Engagement: Engaging local communities in conservation efforts is critical. This includes providing alternative livelihoods to reduce their reliance on forest resources and raising awareness about the importance of conservation. [78]
    • Policy Advocacy: Sharing research results with policymakers can influence decisions related to land use, logging, agriculture, and other activities that can impact the ecosystem. [79]
  5. Challenges and Threats
    • Habitat Loss: The conversion of natural habitat for agriculture, logging, and infrastructure development is a significant threat. [80]
    • Illegal Wildlife Trade: The region is also a hotspot for illegal wildlife trade, posing a severe risk to many endangered species. [81]
    • Climate Change: Shifts in weather patterns and increased droughts and wildfires due to climate change can affect the balance between the forest and savanna components. [82]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savanna</span> Mixed woodland-grassland ecosystem

A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of grasses. According to Britannica, there exists four savanna forms; savanna woodland where trees and shrubs form a light canopy, tree savanna with scattered trees and shrubs, shrub savanna with distributed shrubs, and grass savanna where trees and shrubs are mostly nonexistent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afrotropical realm</span> One of Earths eight biogeographic realms

The Afrotropical realm is one of the Earth's eight biogeographic realms. It includes Sub-Saharan Africa, the southern Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, and the islands of the western Indian Ocean. It was formerly known as the Ethiopian Zone or Ethiopian Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lopé National Park</span> National park in Gabon

Lopé National Park is a national park in central Gabon. Bordered by the Ogooué River to the north and the Chaillu Massif to the south, the park takes up roughly 4912 square kilometers. Although the terrain is mostly monsoon forest, in the north the park contains the last remnants of grass savannas created in Central Africa during the last ice age, 15,000 years ago. It was the first protected area in Gabon when the Lopé-Okanda Wildlife Reserve was created in 1946, and in 2007, the national park and surrounding Lopé-Okanda landscape were added to the World Heritage List by UNESCO because of its biodiversity, unique savanna-forest transitional zone, and the spectacular petroglyphs in the region.

The Lower Guinean forests also known as the Lower Guinean-Congolian forests, are a region of coastal tropical moist broadleaf forest in West Africa, extending along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Guinea from eastern Benin through Nigeria and Cameroon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freshwater swamp forest</span> Forest growing on an alluvial zone

Freshwater swamp forests, or flooded forests, are forests which are inundated with freshwater, either permanently or seasonally. They normally occur along the lower reaches of rivers and around freshwater lakes. Freshwater swamp forests are found in a range of climate zones, from boreal through temperate and subtropical to tropical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Ivory Coast</span> Flora and fauna of Ivory Coast in West Africa

The wildlife of Ivory Coast consists of the flora and fauna of this nation in West Africa. The country has a long Atlantic coastline on the Gulf of Guinea and a range of habitat types. Once covered in tropical rainforest, much of this habitat has been cleared, the remaining terrain being gallery forests and savanna with scattered groups of trees, resulting in a decrease in biodiversity. As of 2016, 252 species of mammal had been recorded in Ivory Coast, 666 species of bird, 153 species of reptile, 80 species of amphibian, 671 species of fish and 3660 species of vascular plant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Togo</span>

The wildlife of Togo is composed of the flora and fauna of Togo, a country in West Africa. Despite its small size the country has a diversity of habitats; there are only remnants of the once more extensive rain forests in the south, there is Sudanian savanna in the north-western part of the country and larger areas of Guinean forest–savanna mosaic in the centre and north-east. The climate is tropical with distinct wet and dry seasons. There are estimated to be over 3000 species of vascular plants in the country, and 196 species of mammals and 676 species of birds have been recorded there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oba Hills Forest Reserve</span> Natural reserve in Nigeria

Oba Hills Forest Reserve is a reserve in Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria, that covers about 52 square kilometres (20 sq mi) of hilly terrain with deep gorges. Oba Hill Forest Reserve is a small enclave encompassing three hills with a wide valley running in between. A large teak plantation is on its western side, covering about 12% of its total area beyond the hills. Only coppices are left on the over-exploited plantation. According to a UICN report from 2003, about 12% of the reserve had been planted with teak. Some chimpanzee sightings had been reported, and in 1999, a dead chimpanzee was offered for sale in a local market. A 2009 report said that almost all of the reserve had been converted to plantations and farms, with only two gullies remaining forest-covered. It is now believed that chimpanzees are nearly extinct in the reserve.

Akure Forest Reserve is a protected area in southwest Nigeria, covering 66 km2 (25 sq mi). The Akure Forest Reserve, established in 1948 and spanning approximately 32 hectares. It was created with the primary aim of safeguarding the genetic diversity of the forest ecosystem. About 11.73% is estimated to be cleared for cocoa farming and other food crops. Aponmu and Owena Yoruba speaking communities owned the forest, though, there are also minor settlements surrounding the forest. They include Ipogun, Kajola/ Aponmu, Kajola, Ago Petesi, Akika Camp, Owena Town, Ibutitan/Ilaro Camp, Elemo Igbara Oke Camp and Owena Water new Dam.

The Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, whose site is historically known as Majang, is situated on the Mambilla Plateau in North East Nigeria, covering 46 km2. It can be reached on foot from Yelwa village past the Mayo Jigawal, from where it is less than half an hour’s walk to the upper edge of the forest. The elevation ranges from 1,400 metres (4,593 ft) to 1,600 metres (5,249 ft). Ngel Nyaki was formally gazetted a local authority Forest Reserve under Gashaka - Mambilla Native Authority Forest order of April 1969, but presently it is under the management of the Taraba State Government and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), with the Nigerian Montane Forest Project (NMFP) as a project partner.

The Okomu Forest Reserve is a forest block covering an area of 1081 km2 in Edo State, about 50 km west of Benin City, Nigeria. The Okomu National Park lies within the larger reserve, maintaining a small part of the forests that once covered the region as the last habitat for many endangered species.

The Okomu National Park, formerly the Okomu Wildlife Sanctuary, has been identified as one of the largest remaining natural rainforest ecosystem. Due to the high biodiversity seen in the Okomu National Park, a Wildlife Sanctuary was first established there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montane ecosystems</span> Ecosystems found in mountains

Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial factor in shaping plant community, biodiversity, metabolic processes and ecosystem dynamics for montane ecosystems. Dense montane forests are common at moderate elevations, due to moderate temperatures and high rainfall. At higher elevations, the climate is harsher, with lower temperatures and higher winds, preventing the growth of trees and causing the plant community to transition to montane grasslands and shrublands or alpine tundra. Due to the unique climate conditions of montane ecosystems, they contain increased numbers of endemic species. Montane ecosystems also exhibit variation in ecosystem services, which include carbon storage and water supply.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigerian lowland forests</span> Ecoregion in Nigeria and Benin

The biogeographic regionalization of Earth's terrestrial biodiversity, known as Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World (TEOW), is made up of 867 ecoregions that are divided into 14 biomes. In addition to offering a comprehensive map of terrestrial biodiversity, TEOW also provides a global species database for ecological analyses and priority setting, a logical biogeographic framework for large-scale conservation strategies, a map for enhancing biogeographic literacy, and a foundation for the Global 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niger Delta swamp forests</span>

The Niger Delta swamp forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in southern Nigeria. It consists of freshwater swamp forests in the Niger Delta of the Niger River. This swamp forest is the second largest in Africa after the Congolian swamp forests. Although there are large cities just outside the ecoregion, the area has been relatively isolated by the difficulty of building roads across the swamps, although this is changing with development of oil and logging industries. Scientific surveys have only begun in recent years, and new species were being identified into the 1990s. Crude oil exploration and pollution has been a threat to forests in the Niger Delta region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reforestation in Nigeria</span>

Reforestation in Nigeria employs both natural and artificial methods. Reforestation involves the deliberate planting of trees and restoring forested areas that have been depleted or destroyed. It involves a planned restocking of the forest to ensure sustainable supply of timber and other forest products. Reforestation, in essence, involves replenishing forests to guarantee a consistent and sustainable supply of timber and various other forest resources. This objective can be accomplished through either natural regeneration techniques or artificial regeneration methods. Both of these approaches have been utilized in the reforestation efforts within Nigeria's forests. At the initiation of the reforestation program in Nigeria, the natural regeneration approach was chosen for two primary reasons. Firstly, it aimed to preserve the rainforest in its original state by allowing it to regenerate naturally from the existing seed bank in the soil. Secondly, and of significant importance, this method was selected due to budgetary constraints, as there were insufficient funds available to establish plantations through direct means.

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