Dzanga-Sangha Complex of Protected Areas
Encyclopedia
The Dzanga-Sangha Complex of Protected Areas (DSPAC) (originally: Dzanga-Sangha Project) is a protected area in the extreme southwestern Central African Republic
. The dense forest block, created in 1990, measures 4589 km² (1,771.8 sq mi). It consists of the Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve
and the Dzanga Ndoki National Park which has two sectors, the 495 km (307.6 mi) Dzanga Park and the 725 km (450.5 mi) Ndoki Park. Since their gazetting, management of the park and the reserve has been under the Dzanga-Sangha project, a collaborative effort of the country's government, the GTZ/LUSO, a German technical agency, and the World Wildlife Fund
. Financial and technical assistance have been provided by the German and United States governments, the World Bank
, and several private organizations and donors.
. The precise border between the Central African Republic, Cameroon
and the Republic of Congo is located at 2°13′14"N 16°11′31"E (in the Sangha River). Ndoki Park is located furthest south in the lowest triangular shaped part and forms the border between these countries.
The average annual rainfall is 1400–1500 mm and the average temperature is between 24 and 29 °C. The most precipitation in the
area falls in the long rainy season from October to November and in the short rainy season between May and June.
, Rubiaceae
, Fabaceae
, and Annonaceae
. Others that are well represented include the Caeasalpiniaceae, Meliaceae
, Sterculiaceae
and Ebenaceae
. Near villages can be found patches of savannah as well as forest exploitation roads. The DSPAC forests around the Sangha River
are differentiated in their composition and structure. They are characterised by the presence of monodominant patches of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei stands with relatively low values for the mean number of trees per hectare when compared with other areas of the region. Conversely, field observations find that these forest display some of the highest concentrations of animal species per hectare as compared with other areas of the region.
The varied ecosystems are a habitat source for very high concentrations of African Forest Elephant
, gorilla
, chimpanzee
, bongo
, and buffalo.
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
. The dense forest block, created in 1990, measures 4589 km² (1,771.8 sq mi). It consists of the Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve
Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve
The Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve is a protected reserve of southwestern Central African Republic. It was established in 1990 and covers 6865.54 km²...
and the Dzanga Ndoki National Park which has two sectors, the 495 km (307.6 mi) Dzanga Park and the 725 km (450.5 mi) Ndoki Park. Since their gazetting, management of the park and the reserve has been under the Dzanga-Sangha project, a collaborative effort of the country's government, the GTZ/LUSO, a German technical agency, and the World Wildlife Fund
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
. Financial and technical assistance have been provided by the German and United States governments, the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, and several private organizations and donors.
Geography and climate
The Dzanga-Sangha Complex of Protected Areas is located in the extreme southwest of the Central African Republic in a triangular-shaped part of the country. The Dzanga-Sangha rainforest is the second largest on earth, covering over 500 million acres (2,023,430 km²) of moist tropical forest. The main river running through this region is the Sangha RiverSangha River
The Sangha River, a river in central Africa, is a tributary of the Congo River, which it joins at . Formed by the merging of the Mambéré River into the Kadéï River at Nola , the Sangha flows through the Central African Republic, along the border of Cameroon, and through the Republic of Congo.Its...
. The precise border between the Central African Republic, Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
and the Republic of Congo is located at 2°13′14"N 16°11′31"E (in the Sangha River). Ndoki Park is located furthest south in the lowest triangular shaped part and forms the border between these countries.
The average annual rainfall is 1400–1500 mm and the average temperature is between 24 and 29 °C. The most precipitation in the
area falls in the long rainy season from October to November and in the short rainy season between May and June.
Flora and fauna
Predominant vegetation consists of semi-deciduous, evergreen, flooded, swampy forests. Monodominant forests also exist of Gilbetiodendron dewevrei. The most important observed species include the EuphorbiaceaeEuphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti....
, Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,...
, Fabaceae
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
, and Annonaceae
Annonaceae
Annonaceae, also called the custard apple familyis a family of flowering plants consisting of trees, shrubs or rarely lianas.With about 2300 to 2500 species and more than 130 genera,...
. Others that are well represented include the Caeasalpiniaceae, Meliaceae
Meliaceae
The Meliaceae, or the Mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and shrubs in the order Sapindales....
, Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae is a botanical name for a group of flowering plants at the rank of family, which is now considered obsolete. As is true for any botanical name, the circumscription, status and placement of the taxon has varied with taxonomic point of view...
and Ebenaceae
Ebenaceae
The Ebenaceae are a family of flowering plants, which includes ebony and persimmon. The family has approximately 500 species of trees and shrubs in two genera, Diospyros and Euclea. The species are mostly evergreen and native to the tropics and subtropics, with a few deciduous species native to...
. Near villages can be found patches of savannah as well as forest exploitation roads. The DSPAC forests around the Sangha River
Sangha River
The Sangha River, a river in central Africa, is a tributary of the Congo River, which it joins at . Formed by the merging of the Mambéré River into the Kadéï River at Nola , the Sangha flows through the Central African Republic, along the border of Cameroon, and through the Republic of Congo.Its...
are differentiated in their composition and structure. They are characterised by the presence of monodominant patches of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei stands with relatively low values for the mean number of trees per hectare when compared with other areas of the region. Conversely, field observations find that these forest display some of the highest concentrations of animal species per hectare as compared with other areas of the region.
The varied ecosystems are a habitat source for very high concentrations of African Forest Elephant
African Forest Elephant
The African Forest Elephant is a forest dwelling elephant of the Congo Basin. Formerly considered either a synonym or a subspecies of the African Savanna Elephant , a 2010 study established that the two are distinct species...
, gorilla
Gorilla
Gorillas are the largest extant species of primates. They are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and either four or five subspecies...
, chimpanzee
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
, bongo
Bongo
Bongo may refer to:In nature:*Bongo , a species of forest antelope from AfricaIn geography:*Bongo Country, the name of several places in Africa*Bongo , Ivory CoastIn entertainment:...
, and buffalo.