Data Zone
Country/territory: Nigeria
IBA criteria met: A3 (2001)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 100,000 hectares (1,000.00 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2017 | very poor | very high | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2001 baseline)
The Donga river basin forests are located on the slopes and at the foot of the Mambilla Plateau, south-west of Gashaka-Gumti National Park (NG002). They include Baissa, Amboi and Bissaula River Forest Reserves as well as some areas of unprotected forests near the villages of Akwabe and Akoforo. The area is lowland forest beside the Donga river, south of Buru village and about 10 km from the border with Cameroon. The terrain is hilly and rocky. Derived savanna occurs in disturbed parts, but more forest survives in the east and south of the site. Dominant tree species include Brachystegia sp., Khaya grandifoliola, Erythrophleum guineensis, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Pterygota macrocarpa, Cleistopholis patens and Garcinia kola. Amongst the many species of lianas present are Entada pursaetha, Laccosperma opacum and Piper guineense. Rainfall is heavy and persistent due to the influence of the neighbouring Mambilla Plateau and the Cameroon mountains, but no figures are available. Soils are well drained, brown sandy loams, containing limited organic material.
Key biodiversity
See Box and Table 3 for key species. Over 190 bird species have been recorded, including three of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04); see Table 3. The site is the only one known in Nigeria for Smithornis sharpei. Other nationally uncommon species include Pteronetta hartlaubii, Terathopius ecaudatus, Stephanoaetus coronatus, Indicator maculatus, Muscicapa sethsmithi, Nectarinia johannae and Mandingoa nitidula.
Non-bird biodiversity: The mammals Syncerus caffer (LR/cd) and Pan troglodytes (VU) occur.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Donga river basin forests (Nigeria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/donga-river-basin-forests-iba-nigeria on 23/12/2024.