Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The Rumpi Hills, situated to the north of Mount Cameroon (CM027), west of the Bakossi mountains (CM022) and south-east of Korup National Park (CM019), include a number of peaks over 1,000 m, the highest of which is Mount Rata, 1,768 m. Many of the peaks are the result of extensive faulting, so that there are no classic volcanic cones with craters. Part of the site comprises an area of mid-altitude forest, largely degraded by logging and agricultural encroachment. Mount Rata has more intact forest than the surrounding areas. In addition to the mid-altitude forest, coastal evergreen and drier northern semi-evergreen forest elements occur. There are many permanent watercourses.
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. A total of 198 species have so far been recorded, including
Columba albinucha. One species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04) also occurs (Table 3).
Non-bird biodiversity: Hunters still report the presence of Mandrillus leucophaeus (EN) and Cercopithecus preussi (EN), and among others Procolobus (badius) preussi (EN) may occur, but the current status of all needs re-assessing. On present evidence Myosorex rumpii (CR) is endemic to this site, although whether or not this forest shrew (closely related to other species) is really critically threatened remains to be investigated. Another species endemic to Cameroon for which this is the type-locality is Paraxerus cooperi (VU), widespread in the mountain chain.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The area has, until now, been a production Forest Reserve, open to logging concessions; much of the forest has, in consequence, gone or is in a poor state. The area around Mount Rata appears less damaged, but surveys are needed to establish where the best forest is located. Despite high hunting pressure, MINEF now plans to convert the Rumpi Hills into a 45,675 ha Faunal Reserve in which, it is hoped, Mount Rata will be included.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mount Rata and Rumpi Hills Forest Reserve (Cameroon). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mount-rata-and-rumpi-hills-forest-reserve-iba-cameroon on 22/11/2024.
