Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
This small, mid-altitude Forest Reserve is located an hour’s walk from Yelwa in Taraba State between Serti and Gembu, about 60 km west of Gashaka-Gumti National Park (NG002). It is surrounded by montane grasslands with other forest blocks nearby. The forest is diverse in species composition and has many tall emergents (e.g.
Aningeria altissima, locally exclusive to this forest). The canopy is unusually dense because of the profusion of lianas and other climbers. The wet season lasts from March to November and average annual rainfall exceeds 2,000 mm.
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Eighty-six species have so far been recorded. In addition to those mentioned below, four species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome (A04) and 11 of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome (A05) occur—see Table 3. The nationally uncommon
Apalis jacksoni occurs.
Non-bird biodiversity: Pan troglodytes (EN) and Syncerus caffer (LR/cd) have been recorded.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Although most of the forest is in good condition because access is difficult, there has been some clear-cutting and burning by farmers. These disturbed patches attract pastoralists who graze their cattle there. It is likely that hunting is widespread. Although legally protected as a state Forest Reserve, there are no active conservation initiatives. There is a proposal that the reserve be incorporated into nearby Gashaka-Gumti National Park.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Ngel-Nyaki Forest Reserve (Nigeria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ngel-nyaki-forest-reserve-iba-nigeria on 22/11/2024.
