SL007
Western Area Peninsula Forest National Park This is an IBA in Danger! 


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2001 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Current IUCN Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Ahanta Francolin Pternistis ahantensis LC resident 2000 present A3
Forest Francolin Peliperdix lathami LC resident 2000 present A3
Afep Pigeon Columba unicincta LC resident 2000 present A3
Western Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba iriditorques LC resident 2000 present A3
Blue-headed Wood-dove Turtur brehmeri LC resident 2000 present A3
Sabine's Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini LC resident 2000 present A3
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi LC resident 2000 present A3
Nkulengu Rail Himantornis haematopus LC resident 2000 present A3
Grey-throated Rail Canirallus oculeus LC resident 2000 present A3
Green Turaco Tauraco persa LC resident 2000 present A3
Yellow-billed Turaco Tauraco macrorhynchus LC resident 2000 present A3
White-crested Tiger-heron Tigriornis leucolopha LC resident 2000 present A3
Fraser's Eagle-owl Bubo poensis LC resident 2000 present A3
Cassin's Hawk-eagle Aquila africana LC resident 2000 present A3
Red-legged Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus LC resident 2000 present A3
Western Long-tailed Hornbill Horizocerus albocristatus LC resident 2000 present A3
West African Pied Hornbill Lophoceros semifasciatus LC resident 2000 present A3
Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata VU resident 2000 present A1, A3
Black Bee-eater Merops gularis LC resident 2000 present A3
Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis LC resident 2000 present A3
White-bellied Kingfisher Corythornis leucogaster LC resident 2000 present A3
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia LC resident 2000 present A3
Naked-faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus LC resident 2000 present A3
Western Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon dowsetti LC resident 2000 present A3
Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus LC resident 2000 present A3
Red-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus LC resident 2000 present A3
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus LC resident 2000 present A3
Cassin's Honeybird Prodotiscus insignis LC resident 2000 present A3
Willcocks's Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi LC resident 2000 present A3
Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus LC resident 2000 present A3
Melancholy Woodpecker Dendropicos lugubris LC resident 2000 present A3
Little Green Woodpecker Campethera maculosa LC resident 2000 present A3
Buff-spotted Woodpecker Pardipicus nivosus LC resident 2000 present A3
Brown-eared Woodpecker Pardipicus caroli LC resident 2000 present A3
Fire-bellied Woodpecker Dendropicos pyrrhogaster LC resident 2000 present A3
Timneh Parrot Psittacus timneh EN resident 2000 present A3
Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrynchus LC resident 2000 present A3
African Shrike-flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus LC resident 2000 present A3
Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike Malaconotus cruentus LC resident 2000 present A3
Sabine's Puffback Dryoscopus sabini LC resident 2000 present A3
Turati's Boubou Laniarius turatii LC resident 2000 present A1, A3
Shining Drongo Dicrurus atripennis LC resident 2000 present A3
Western Crested-flycatcher Trochocercus nitens LC resident 2000 present A3
Red-bellied Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer LC resident 2000 present A3
White-necked Rockfowl Picathartes gymnocephalus VU resident 2000 present A1, A2, A3
Western Nicator Nicator chloris LC resident 2000 present A3
Lemon-bellied Crombec Sylvietta denti LC resident 2000 present A3
Kemp's Longbill Macrosphenus kempi LC resident 2000 present A3
Grey Longbill Macrosphenus concolor LC resident 2000 present A3
Sharpe's Apalis Apalis sharpii NT resident 2000 present A2, A3
Olive-green Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota LC resident 2000 present A3
Square-tailed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne nitens LC resident 2000 present A3
Golden Greenbul Calyptocichla serinus LC resident 2000 present A3
Red-tailed Bristlebill Bleda syndactylus LC resident 2000 present A3
Green-tailed Bristlebill Bleda eximius NT resident 1999 present A1, A2, A3
Grey-headed Bristlebill Bleda canicapillus LC resident 2000 present A3
Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator LC resident 2000 present A3
Simple Greenbul Chlorocichla simplex LC resident 2000 present A3
Grey Greenbul Eurillas gracilis LC resident 2000 present A3
Ansorge's Greenbul Eurillas ansorgei LC resident 2000 present A3
Plain Greenbul Eurillas curvirostris LC resident 2000 present A3
Western Bearded Greenbul Criniger barbatus LC resident 2000 present A3
Red-tailed Greenbul Criniger calurus LC resident 2000 present A3
Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus LC resident 2000 present A3
Green Hylia Hylia prasina LC resident 2000 present A3
Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens LC resident 2000 present A3
Puvel's Illadopsis Illadopsis puveli LC resident 2000 present A3
Rufous-winged Illadopsis Illadopsis rufescens NT resident 2000 present A1, A2, A3
Grey-hooded Capuchin Babbler Phyllanthus atripennis VU resident 2000 present A3
White-tailed Ant-thrush Neocossyphus poensis LC resident 2000 present A3
White-tailed Alethe Alethe diademata LC resident 2000 present A3
Forest Scrub-robin Tychaedon leucosticta LC resident 2000 present A3
Ussher's Flycatcher Artomyias ussheri LC resident 2000 present A3
White-browed Forest-flycatcher Fraseria cinerascens LC resident 2000 present A3
African Forest-flycatcher Fraseria ocreata LC resident 2000 present A3
Olivaceous Flycatcher Fraseria olivascens LC resident 2000 present A3
Orange-breasted Forest-robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax LC resident 2000 present A3
Lowland Akalat Sheppardia cyornithopsis LC resident 2000 present A3
Fraser's Sunbird Deleornis fraseri LC resident 2000 present A3
Mouse-brown Sunbird Anthreptes gabonicus LC resident 2000 present A3
Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi LC resident 2000 present A3
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema LC resident 2000 present A3
Johanna's Sunbird Cinnyris johannae LC resident 2000 present A3
Yellow-mantled Weaver Ploceus tricolor LC resident 2000 present A3
Chestnut-and-black Weaver Ploceus castaneofuscus LC resident 2000 present A3
Blue-billed Malimbe Malimbus nitens LC resident 2000 present A3
Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis LC resident 2000 present A3
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus LC resident 2000 present A3
Western Bluebill Spermophaga haematina LC resident 2000 present A3
Crimson Seedcracker Pyrenestes sanguineus LC resident 2000 present A3
Chestnut-breasted Nigrita Nigrita bicolor LC resident 2000 present A3

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2001).


IBA Conservation

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment (most recent) State (condition) Pressure (threat) Response (action)
2018 very unfavourable very high low
Was the whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat medium

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Scientific name Common name Reference population Actual population Units % of population remaining Result
Ceratogymna elata Yellow-casqued Hornbill 21 21 individuals 100 not assessed
Picathartes gymnocephalus White-necked Rockfowl 10 4 individuals 40 unfavourable
Bleda eximius Green-tailed Bristlebill 8 8 individuals 100 not assessed

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Habitat detail Reference area (ha) Actual area (ha) Habitat quantity (% remaining) Habitat quality (carrying capacity) Result
Forest Lowland forest - mixed moist evgn & semi-evgn 0 0 poor (40-69%) poor (40-69%) very unfavourable
Forest Lowland forest - riparian 0 0 moderate (70-90%) moderate (70-90%) unfavourable
Forest Mid-altitude forest - transitional 0 0 moderate (70-90%) moderate (70-90%) unfavourable
Savanna Bushland & thicket - deciduous 0 0 poor (40-69%) moderate (70-90%) very unfavourable
Wetlands (inland) Rivers & streams 0 0 poor (40-69%) poor (40-69%) very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1 Threat level 2 Timing Scope Severity Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification annual & perennial non-timber crops - shifting agriculture happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Agricultural expansion and intensification annual & perennial non-timber crops - small-holder farming happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Biological resource use gathering terrestrial plants - unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Biological resource use hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - intentional use (species being assessed is the target) happening now whole area/population (>90%) moderate to rapid deterioration very high
Biological resource use logging & wood harvesting - intentional use: subsistence/small scale happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Climate change and severe weather storms and floods happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Human intrusions and disturbance work and other activities happening now whole area/population (>90%) very rapid to severe deterioration very high
Natural system modifications fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high
Pollution domestic & urban waste water - type unknown/unrecorded happening now some of area/population (10-49%) slow but significant deterioration medium
Pollution garbage & solid waste happening now some of area/population (10-49%) no or imperceptible deterioration low
Residential and commercial development housing and urban areas happening now some of area/population (10-49%) moderate to rapid deterioration high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation Management planning Other conservation action Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive Very little or no conservation action taking place low
For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Western Area Peninsula Forest National Park 18,337 protected area overlaps with site 17,688
Western Area No or Non - Hunting Forest Reserve 17,688 is identical to site 17,688

Habitats

Habitat (IUCN level 1) Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Savanna Bushland & thicket - deciduous, Bushland & thicket - montane, Wooded grassland -
Grassland Grassland - edaphic, dry -
Forest Mid-altitude forest - transitional, Lowland forest - mixed moist evgn & semi-evgn, Lowland forest - riparian, Mangrove, Montane forest - mixed -
Wetlands (inland) Rivers & streams, Freshwater lakes and pools, Permanent herbaceous swamps and bogs -
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) Inselbergs, kopjes & inland cliffs, Scree, boulders & bare rock -
Marine Coastal/Supratidal -
For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
forestry -
hunting -
military -
nature conservation and research -
urban/industrial/transport -
water management -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Western Area Peninsula Forest National Park. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/western-area-peninsula-forest-national-park-iba-sierra-leone on 07/12/2023.