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Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The Upper Orashi forests are located in the northern part of the Niger Delta. The site includes the Upper Orashi Forest Reserve, the roost of
Psittacus erithacus at Ikodi and its environs. These are largely areas of lowland rainforest, most of which is secondary. Parts of these forests may be seasonally flooded and support a mixture of
Raphia palm and broadleaved trees. In disturbed sites in higher areas the vegetation is usually dominated by oil-palm
Elaeis guineensis and
Musanga cecropioides. The large roost of
Psittacus erithacus is located in such an area, near Ikodi village in Ahoada Local Government Area.
See Box and Table 3 for key species. Over 1,000
Psittacus erithacus roost in tall oil-palm bush near Ikodi. In addition, the site is a possible locality for the restricted-range
Estrilda poliopareia. To date, 91 species have been recorded. Nationally uncommon species that occur include
Pteronetta hartlaubi,
Dryotriorchis spectabilis,
Spizaetus africanus,
Turtur brehmeri,
Centropus leucogaster,
Ceratogymna atrata,
Pogoniulus atroflavus,
Indicator conirostris,
Dendropicos gabonensis,
Apalis nigriceps,
Anthreptes rectirostris and
Nigrita fusconota.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals include Cercopithecus sclateri (EN), C. erythrogaster (VU), Hexaprotodon liberiensis (VU) and Cephalophus sylvicultor (LR/nt). Hylochoerus meinertzhageni has also been recorded from the area.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Uncontrolled timber extraction is the most significant threat to the area. Other threats include roads built for oil exploration activities, which open up areas previously inaccessible to poachers. Forest clearance for farming is also a threat.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Upper Orashi forests (Nigeria). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/upper-orashi-forests-iba-nigeria on 27/12/2024.
