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

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
White-breasted Guineafowl Agelastes meleagrides	VU	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Ahanta Spurfowl Pternistis ahantensis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Forest Francolin Peliperdix lathami	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Hartlaub's Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii	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
Black Spinetail Telacanthura melanopygia	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Sabine's Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Cassin's Spinetail Neafrapus cassini	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Black-throated Coucal Centropus leucogaster	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx olivinus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra	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
Red-chested Owlet Glaucidium tephronotum	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Shelley's Eagle-owl Bubo shelleyi	VU	resident (2000)	present	A3
Akun Eagle-owl Bubo leucostictus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Fraser's Eagle-owl Bubo poensis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Rufous Fishing-owl Scotopelia ussheri	VU	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Congo Serpent-eagle Dryotriorchis spectabilis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Cassin's Hawk-eagle Aquila africana	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Long-tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Lophoceros camurus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Eastern Dwarf Hornbill Horizocerus granti	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-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Brown-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes cylindricus	VU	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Western Piping Hornbill Bycanistes fistulator	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Western Long-tailed Hornbill Horizocerus albocristatus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Black Bee-eater Merops gularis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Blue-moustached Bee-eater Merops mentalis	NT	resident (2000)	present	A3
Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
African Dwarf-kingfisher Ispidina lecontei	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
Western Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon dowsetti	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Bristle-nosed Barbet Gymnobucco peli	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
Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Naked-faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Cassin's Honeybird Prodotiscus insignis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Yellow-footed Honeyguide Melignomon eisentrauti	NT	resident (2000)	present	A1, A3
Willcocks's Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Lyre-tailed Honeyguide Melichneutes robustus	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
Melancholy Woodpecker Dendropicos lugubris	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Timneh Parrot Psittacus timneh	EN	resident (2000)	present	A3
Rufous-sided Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrynchus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Black-winged Oriole Oriolus nigripennis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Western Wattled Cuckooshrike Lobotos lobatus	VU	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
Blue Cuckooshrike Cyanograucalus azureus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
African Shrike-flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
West African Batis Batis occulta	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Red-cheeked Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia blissetti	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Fiery-breasted Bushshrike Malaconotus cruentus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Lagden's Bushshrike Malaconotus lagdeni	NT	resident (2000)	present	A1
Sabine's Puffback Dryoscopus sabini	LC	resident (2000)	present	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
Dusky Crested-flycatcher Elminia nigromitrata	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Dusky Tit Melaniparus funereus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Western Nicator Nicator chloris	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Green Crombec Sylvietta virens	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
Yellow-browed Camaroptera Camaroptera superciliaris	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Olive-green Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Chattering Cisticola Cisticola anonymus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Square-tailed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne nitens	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
White-bibbed Swallow Hirundo nigrita	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
Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Swamp Palm Bulbul Thescelocichla leucopleura	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
Red-tailed Greenbul Criniger calurus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Yellow-bearded Greenbul Criniger olivaceus	VU	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Chestnut-capped Flycatcher Erythrocercus mccallii	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Green Hylia Hylia prasina	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Tit-hylia Pholidornis rushiae	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Black-capped Illadopsis Illadopsis cleaveri	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
Chestnut-winged Starling Onychognathus fulgidus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Narrow-tailed Starling Poeoptera lugubris	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Copper-tailed Starling Hylopsar cupreocauda	NT	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, A3
White-tailed Ant-thrush Neocossyphus poensis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Finsch's Flycatcher-thrush Stizorhina finschi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Grey Ground-thrush Geokichla princei	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
White-tailed Alethe Alethe diademata	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Little Grey Flycatcher Muscicapa epulata	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Cassin's Flycatcher Muscicapa cassini	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
Grey-throated Tit-flycatcher Fraseria griseigularis	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Tessmann's Flycatcher Fraseria tessmanni	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Olivaceous Flycatcher Fraseria olivascens	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Nimba Flycatcher Melaenornis annamarulae	VU	resident (2000)	present	A1, A2, 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
Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Buff-throated Sunbird Chalcomitra adelberti	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Tiny Sunbird Cinnyris minullus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Johanna's Sunbird Cinnyris johannae	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Superb Sunbird Cinnyris superbus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Yellow-mantled Weaver Ploceus tricolor	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Maxwell's Black Weaver Ploceus albinucha	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Preuss's Weaver Ploceus preussi	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Chestnut-and-black Weaver Ploceus castaneofuscus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Gola Malimbe Malimbus ballmanni	NT	resident (1999)	present	A1, A2, A3
Red-vented Malimbe Malimbus scutatus	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
White-breasted Nigrita Nigrita fusconotus	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Chestnut-breasted Nigrita Nigrita bicolor	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Pale-fronted Nigrita Nigrita luteifrons	LC	resident (2000)	present	A3
Red-fronted Antpecker Parmoptila rubrifrons	NT	resident (2000)	present	A3

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2001. The most recent assessment (2013) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Energy production and mining	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not compre­hensive and are limited by resources and capacity	high

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
1926	Gola East	Forest Reserve (-)	30
1926	Gola West	Forest Reserve (-)	8
1930	Gola North	Strict Nature Reserve (-)	5
1987	Tiwai Island Sanctuary	Game Sanctuary / Non-hunting Forest Reserve (IV)	2
2010	Gola Rainforest National Park	National Park (II)	93

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Forest	100	Lowland forest - mixed moist evgn & semi-evgn

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	-
forestry	-
hunting	-
nature conservation and research	-
urban/industrial/transport	-
water management	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gola Forests (Sierra Leone). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gola-forests-iba-sierra-leone on 23/12/2024.