Lobéké National Park
Encyclopedia
Lobéké National Park is a national park of southeastern Cameroon
within the Moloundou Arrondisement
of East Province. Located in the Congo Basin
, it is bounded on the east by the Sangha River
which serves as Cameroon's international border with Central African Republic
and the Republic of the Congo
. It is adjacent to two other reserves in the CAR and Congo. To the northwest is Boumba Bek National Park
, another national park in Cameroon's East Province.
In a conference of the Ministers of Forests of Central African Forest Commission
(COMIFAC), it had been resolved to establish within the Congo basin
, the Sangha River Tri-national Protected area (STN) encompassing the Dzanga Sangha Special Reserve in the Central African Republic, which incorporates the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park
in the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville
) and the Lobéké National Park in Cameroon
.
and the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park
in the Republic of Congo. This tri-park area is operated by the Central African Forest Commission
(COMIFAC), and is overlooked and funded by international wildlife groups such as the World Wildlife Fund, the German Cooperation of Technical Collaboration (GTZ) and the Wildlife Conservation Society
(WCS). Since 18 April 2006, the Lobéké National Park has been on the list of suggestions for a UNESCO World Heritage site. Since 2006, it has been on the proposal list as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
.
. More than twelve natural savannas, characterized as saline swamps, occur within the park. There are also sandbars on the Sangha. The annual rainfall averages 1400 mm., with the dry season occurring from December through February. Large forest clearings, or bais, have soils rich in various minerals that attract the mega fauna of the forest. Lobéké is the home of many different ethnic groups including the Baka
, the Bantu and the Bangando.
(Triplochiton, Pterygota), Ceiba pentandra and Terminalia superba
. The understorey consists of Marantaceae
-Zingiberaceae
thicket, or Ebenaceae
and Annonaceae
trees. Near streams there are clusters of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei
. Palm thickets and sedge
marshes border the savannas. More than 300 species of trees in Lobéké.
Some of the highest densities of African Forest Elephant
s and Western Lowland Gorilla
s in all of Africa are found in Lobéké. Other animals include primates, such as chimpanzees, gorillas, leopards, as well as ten species of forest ungulate
s. In addition to mammals, fauna inventory includes 215 species of butterflies, 134 species of fish, 18 species of reptiles, and 16 species of amphibians.
Lobéké National Park is an Important Bird Area
(#CM033). Over three hundred species of birds have been recorded here. The rare red-nosed green pigeon (Treron calvus), rhinoceros birds (Buceros rhinoceros), Chrysococcyx flavigularis, Otus icterorhynchus and the chestnut kingfisher (Halcyon badia) can all be found in the park. Specifically within Cameroon and Gabon
, it is an important bird area for the Ja River Scrub-warbler
.
of the Republic of the Congo. Observation towers built 5 m (16.4 ft) above ground level support ecological monitoring and tourism.
Timber exploitation and safari hunting are a concern, as well as poaching for bushmeat
, exotic animals, and ivory. Illegal fishing or bird poaching is a major problem and every year thousands of African gray parrots are caught and exported illegally. Even in 1997, when the government placed a ban on the export of birds, many birds were still caught and sold illegally for traditional medicine and other reasons. Mineral deposits have not been ruled out. A growing local population is dependent upon local resources.
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...
within the Moloundou Arrondisement
Moloundou
Moloundou is an arrondissement in the Boumba et Ngoko Division of southeastern Cameroon's East Province. Mouloundou is close to Boumba Bek and Nki National Parks on the Dja River...
of East Province. Located in the Congo Basin
Congo Basin
The Congo Basin is the sedimentary basin that is the drainage of the Congo River of west equatorial Africa. The basin begins in the highlands of the East African Rift system with input from the Chambeshi River, the Uele and Ubangi Rivers in the upper reaches and the Lualaba River draining wetlands...
, it is bounded on the east by 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...
which serves as Cameroon's international border with Central African Republic
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 ,...
and the Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
. It is adjacent to two other reserves in the CAR and Congo. To the northwest is Boumba Bek National Park
Boumba Bek National Park
Boumba Bek National Park is a national park in extreme southeastern Cameroon, located in its East Province.-History:The park was never logged; according to the World Wildlife Fund's scientific advisor in the region, Paul Robinson Ngnegueu, "poaching is the biggest threat to Boumba Bek." This is a...
, another national park in Cameroon's East Province.
In a conference of the Ministers of Forests of Central African Forest Commission
Central African Forest Commission
The Central African Forest Commission is an intergovernmental organisation in Central Africa. It's goal is to manage the forests of Central Africa in a sustainable manner.The four official languages are French, English, Spanish and Portuguese....
(COMIFAC), it had been resolved to establish within the Congo basin
Congo Basin
The Congo Basin is the sedimentary basin that is the drainage of the Congo River of west equatorial Africa. The basin begins in the highlands of the East African Rift system with input from the Chambeshi River, the Uele and Ubangi Rivers in the upper reaches and the Lualaba River draining wetlands...
, the Sangha River Tri-national Protected area (STN) encompassing the Dzanga Sangha Special Reserve in the Central African Republic, which incorporates the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park
Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park
Nouabal-Ndoki National Park is a national park in the Republic of the Congo. Established in 1993, north of Congo, it is mostly populated with elephants, apes, ranging from Western Lowland Gorillas to chimpanzees and bongo. It is of pristine tropical rainforest with no human habitation within it...
in the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
) and the Lobéké National Park in 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...
.
History
Already in 1991, the WWF had conducted a biological assessment of the area and recommended that the Lobéké area be protected, recommending that the unexploited 40,000 hectares be expanded to encompass over 400,000 hectares. In October 1999, the park was declared a National Park. In the same year the so-called Yaoundé Declaration was signed, forming a tri-national park agreement of cooperation with Dzanga-Sangha Forest Reserve in the Central African RepublicCentral 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 ,...
and the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park
Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park
Nouabal-Ndoki National Park is a national park in the Republic of the Congo. Established in 1993, north of Congo, it is mostly populated with elephants, apes, ranging from Western Lowland Gorillas to chimpanzees and bongo. It is of pristine tropical rainforest with no human habitation within it...
in the Republic of Congo. This tri-park area is operated by the Central African Forest Commission
Central African Forest Commission
The Central African Forest Commission is an intergovernmental organisation in Central Africa. It's goal is to manage the forests of Central Africa in a sustainable manner.The four official languages are French, English, Spanish and Portuguese....
(COMIFAC), and is overlooked and funded by international wildlife groups such as the World Wildlife Fund, the German Cooperation of Technical Collaboration (GTZ) and the Wildlife Conservation Society
Wildlife Conservation Society
The Wildlife Conservation Society based at the Bronx Zoo was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society and currently manages some of wild places around the world, with over 500 field conservation projects in 60 countries, and 200 scientists on staff...
(WCS). Since 18 April 2006, the Lobéké National Park has been on the list of suggestions for a UNESCO World Heritage site. Since 2006, it has been on the proposal list as a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
Geography
Lobéké National Park belongs to the Moloundou Arrondissement, located in the vicinity of Boumba and Ngoko. The Moloundou area has been described as "one of the richest rubber areas of Africa" and the Germans established a rubber making plant in the area. The park is located close to the borders with neighbouring Republic of Congo and Central African Republic, which is why the tri-national environmental initiative with the park and Dzanga-Sangha Forest Reserve and the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park was made. The park covers 1838.55 km² (709.9 sq mi), and its altitude ranges from 300 m (984.3 ft) to 750 m (2,460.6 ft) above sea levelAbove mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
. More than twelve natural savannas, characterized as saline swamps, occur within the park. There are also sandbars on the Sangha. The annual rainfall averages 1400 mm., with the dry season occurring from December through February. Large forest clearings, or bais, have soils rich in various minerals that attract the mega fauna of the forest. Lobéké is the home of many different ethnic groups including the Baka
Baka
Baka may refer to:in fictional characters* Bākā, a character from Juken Sentai Gekiranger* Baka Rangers, a group of Negima! Magister Negi Magi characters...
, the Bantu and the Bangando.
Flora and fauna
Lobéké is predominantly a semi-evergreen forest, most of which has never been logged. The forest is characterized by an enormous variety of plants. Dominant species include SterculiaceaeSterculiaceae
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...
(Triplochiton, Pterygota), Ceiba pentandra and Terminalia superba
Terminalia superba
Terminalia superba is a large tree in the family Combretaceae, native to tropical western Africa....
. The understorey consists of Marantaceae
Marantaceae
The Marantaceae or arrowroot family is a family of flowering plants known for its large starchy rhizomes. It is sometimes called the prayer-plant family...
-Zingiberaceae
Zingiberaceae
Zingiberaceae, or the Ginger family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes, comprising ca. 52 genera and more than 1300 species, distributed throughout tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas.Many species are important...
thicket, or 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...
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,...
trees. Near streams there are clusters of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei
Gilbertiodendron
Gilbertiodendron is a genus of legume in the Fabaceae family.It contains the following species:* Gilbertiodendron bilineatum* Gilbertiodendron klainei* Gilbertiodendron pachyanthum* Gilbertiodendron robynsianum...
. Palm thickets and sedge
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae are a family of monocotyledonous graminoid flowering plants known as sedges, which superficially resemble grasses or rushes. The family is large, with some 5,500 species described in about 109 genera. These species are widely distributed, with the centers of diversity for the group...
marshes border the savannas. More than 300 species of trees in Lobéké.
Some of the highest densities 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...
s and Western Lowland Gorilla
Western Lowland Gorilla
The western lowland gorilla is a subspecies of the western gorilla that lives in montane, primary, and secondary forests and lowland swamps in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It is the gorilla usually found in zoos...
s in all of Africa are found in Lobéké. Other animals include primates, such as chimpanzees, gorillas, leopards, as well as ten species of forest ungulate
Ungulate
Ungulates are several groups of mammals, most of which use the tips of their toes, usually hoofed, to sustain their whole body weight while moving. They make up several orders of mammals, of which six to eight survive...
s. In addition to mammals, fauna inventory includes 215 species of butterflies, 134 species of fish, 18 species of reptiles, and 16 species of amphibians.
Lobéké National Park is an Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
(#CM033). Over three hundred species of birds have been recorded here. The rare red-nosed green pigeon (Treron calvus), rhinoceros birds (Buceros rhinoceros), Chrysococcyx flavigularis, Otus icterorhynchus and the chestnut kingfisher (Halcyon badia) can all be found in the park. Specifically within Cameroon and Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
, it is an important bird area for the Ja River Scrub-warbler
Ja River Scrub-warbler
The Ja River Scrub-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Gabon.Its natural habitat is swamps.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
.
Environmental issues
Due to Lobéké' proximity to Congo and CAR, the park is part of a tri-national environmental initiative that includes the Dzanga Sangha Special Reserve of CAR and the Nouabalé-Ndoki National ParkNouabalé-Ndoki National Park
Nouabal-Ndoki National Park is a national park in the Republic of the Congo. Established in 1993, north of Congo, it is mostly populated with elephants, apes, ranging from Western Lowland Gorillas to chimpanzees and bongo. It is of pristine tropical rainforest with no human habitation within it...
of the Republic of the Congo. Observation towers built 5 m (16.4 ft) above ground level support ecological monitoring and tourism.
Timber exploitation and safari hunting are a concern, as well as poaching for bushmeat
Bushmeat
Bushmeat initially referred to the hunting of wild animals in West and Central Africa and is a calque from the French viande de brousse. Today the term is commonly used for meat of terrestrial wild animals, killed for subsistence or commercial purposes throughout the humid tropics of the Americas,...
, exotic animals, and ivory. Illegal fishing or bird poaching is a major problem and every year thousands of African gray parrots are caught and exported illegally. Even in 1997, when the government placed a ban on the export of birds, many birds were still caught and sold illegally for traditional medicine and other reasons. Mineral deposits have not been ruled out. A growing local population is dependent upon local resources.
Further reading
- Dowsett-Lemaire, F., & Dowsett, R. J. (March 1, 2000). "Birds of the Lobéké Faunal Reserve, Cameroon, and its regional importance for conservation". Bird Conservation International, 10, 1, 67-87.
- Jell, B., & Machado, J. S. (January 1, 2002). "Collaborative Management in the Region of Lobeke, Cameroon: The Potentials and Constraints in Involving the Local Population in Protected Area Management". Nomadic Peoples, 6, 180-203.
- Ngenyi, A. N. Z. U. L. (2004). The impact of capture and trade in African grey parrot populations ( Psittacus erithacus ) in Lobeke National Park, south east Cameroon. 3, 1.