Data Zone
Country/territory: Nigeria
IBA criteria met: A3 (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 70,000 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2017 | favourable | high | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2001 baseline)
The Upper Orashi forests are located in the northern part of the Niger Delta. The site includes the Upper Orashi Forest Reserve, the roost of Psittacus erithacus at Ikodi and its environs. These are largely areas of lowland rainforest, most of which is secondary. Parts of these forests may be seasonally flooded and support a mixture of Raphia palm and broadleaved trees. In disturbed sites in higher areas the vegetation is usually dominated by oil-palm Elaeis guineensis and Musanga cecropioides. The large roost of Psittacus erithacus is located in such an area, near Ikodi village in Ahoada Local Government Area.
Key biodiversity
See Box and Table 3 for key species. Over 1,000 Psittacus erithacus roost in tall oil-palm bush near Ikodi. In addition, the site is a possible locality for the restricted-range Estrilda poliopareia. To date, 91 species have been recorded. Nationally uncommon species that occur include Pteronetta hartlaubi, Dryotriorchis spectabilis, Spizaetus africanus, Turtur brehmeri, Centropus leucogaster, Ceratogymna atrata, Pogoniulus atroflavus, Indicator conirostris, Dendropicos gabonensis, Apalis nigriceps, Anthreptes rectirostris and Nigrita fusconota.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals include Cercopithecus sclateri (EN), C. erythrogaster (VU), Hexaprotodon liberiensis (VU) and Cephalophus sylvicultor (LR/nt). Hylochoerus meinertzhageni has also been recorded from the area.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Upper Orashi forests (Nigeria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/upper-orashi-forests-iba-nigeria on 25/11/2024.