Conservation and wildlife management in africa
Download 46.38 Kb.
|
- Navigate this page:
- OVERVIEW OF LIBERIA a. Historical Facts
- HISTORY OF CONSERVATION
- ROLE OF UNITED STATES PEACE CORPS
|
CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA THE PROCEEDINGS OF A WORKSHOP ORGANIZED BY THE U.S. PEACE CORPS AT KASUNGU NATIONAL PARK, MALAWI OCTOBER 1984 EDITED BY R.H.V. BELL AND E. McSHANE-CALUZI PRODUCED THROUGH OFFICE OF TRAINING & PROGRAM SUPPORT FORESTRY & NATURAL RESOURCES SECTOR U.S. PEACE CORPS [SCANNED IN FAO BY OCR ON 8 SEPTEMBER 2005] TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 OVERVIEW OF LIBERIA 3 a. Historical Facts 3 b. Geography 3 c. Geology 3 d. Landforms and Soils 3 e. Soil Resources 3 f. Climatic Conditions 4 g. Economy 4 2 HISTORY OF CONSERVATION 5 a. Wildlife Conservation 5 b. Liberia’s Conservation Areas 5 c. Common Tree and Large Mammal Species of Liberia 6 d. Population Status of Liberia Key Wildlife Species 7 3 THE SAPO NATIONAL PARK 8 4 ROLE OF UNITED STATES PEACE CORPS 9 OVERVIEW OF LIBERIAa. Historical FactsLiberia, the oldest independent country on the African Continent was founded in 1822 by free blacks from the United States of America. It declared independence on July 26, 1847. From 1847 to April 12, 1980, it was ruled predominantly by the Afro-American settlers. In 1980, a military coup ushered in a military government. The country is presently in a transitional stage in an attempt to return it to civilian constitutional rule by 1986. b. GeographyGeographically, the country lies on the southwestern bulge of West Africa. It has an area of 43,580 square miles. It is bordered on the east by the Republic of Ivory Coast, on the west by the Republic of Sierra Leone, on the north by the Republic of Guinea and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The population is about 2.6 million (May 1984 Census) with an annual growth rate approaching 3%. c. GeologyThe geology of Liberia is made of the Liberian Age Province, Eburnean Age Province and a Pan African Age Province. Rocks of the Liberian Age group extend into neighbouring Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast, and predominately are highly foliated granitic gneisses. Within the Liberian Age Province are metasedimentary rocks such as quartzites, amphibolites, pelitic schists and bonded ironstones. Rocks of the Eburnean Age are restricted to southern Liberia where they extend into the Ivory Coast. Generally, Eburnean rocks are more biotite and rich than the Liberian Age granitic gneisses. Rocks of the Pan African Age are found along the coast northwest of Greenville in the southeast to Sierra Leone. Rocks in the province range from basic igneous to pelitic rocks metamorphosed to the granulite and amphibolite grades. Also found present are post Precambrian rocks, which are unmetamorphosed sedimentary rocks, outcropped principally along the low-lying coastal area between Monrovia and Buchanan. Liberia has a significant deposit of mineral resources. The economic usefulness of the mineral deposit within the various rock formations is of tremendous importance for development purposes. For over twenty years or more, Liberia’s mineral deposit has been of dominating importance and iron ore is the country’s principal export earner. Other mineral deposits found in Liberia include diamonds, gold, barite, kyarite, manganese, rulite, silica sand, bauxite and clay. d. Landforms and SoilsFour physiographic zones can be distinguished in Liberia: coastal plains, rolling hills, plateaus and mountain ranges and northern highlands. The coastal plain zone is characterized by a relatively straight coastline with sand bars and long beaches, salt, freshwater lagoons and a few promontories like Cape Mount near Robertsport, Cape Mesurado in Monrovia and Cape Palmas in Harper. The belt of rolling hills parallel to the coastal zone has elevation in the order of 300 feet (90 m.) There are numerous hills, valleys and water courses in this zone. The plateau and mountain ranges are behind the rolling hills. Table lands reach heights of up to 1,000 feet (300 m.) and mountain ranges are found up to 2,000 feet (600 m.) The northern highland zone is situated in Upper Lofa and Nimba counties and is comprised of the Wologisi Range with a height of 4,450 feet (1,350 m.), and the Nimba Range with an elevation on the Liberian side of 4,540 feet (1,385 m.). Both mountains contain iron ore deposits of which the Nimba Range is being exploited. e. Soil ResourcesSoils in Liberia as classified by USDA classification are predominately of the Ultisols order, and also include the Entisols and Inceptisols. The soils can be divided by physiography into upland soils and lowland soils. The upland soils generally have a surface horizon from 20- 30 cm. thick, which may be gravelly. The underlying horizon is typically very gravelly and usually exceeds 1.5 m. in thickness. The gravel black ironstone concretions grade into plinthite at depth. The high gravel contents restrict root growth and have a low available water holding capacity (AWHC). The erosion hazard is moderate to severe on these soils which occupy hill slopes and crests. The lowland soils are found in swampy bottom lands, flood plains, stream terraces and foot slopes. They have plane or concave surfaces and slopes do not exceed 3%. Textures range from sandy clay or sandy loamy fine sand and there is characteristically no gravel. The sandier soils exhibit high permeability, low AWHC and low nutrient availability. Most of the lowland soils exhibit moderate permeability, medium-to- high AWHC and medium-to-high nutrient availability. They are well-suited to vegetable production, especially if situated on low stream terraces. They may require drainage and be susceptible to flooding if situated in swamps and flood plains. The soils are acid, pH 4.5 to 5.5 and have low base saturation, 10 to 40%. Hydrogen and aluminum cations (H+ and A1+³) have replaced most of the bases. The low pH would tend to reduce nutrient availability and could cause iron and aluminum toxicity. Iron toxicity is known to occur in rice. Phosphorous is almost always deficient, except perhaps right after burning of slash after 10+ years of fallow. Nitrogen is commonly deficient, although less so in the valley swamps. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soils is low, being highest in the lowlands where humus contents are high enough to bring the CEC up to 8 to 14 meq./100 g. In the uplands, cultivation causes oxidation of the humus but in the lowlands with good management, the humus levels can be maintained mostly due to the higher moisture level. If organic matter levels are maintained by good management, then the limiting nutrient will probably be phosphorous followed by nitrogen. f. Climatic ConditionsThe climate of Liberia is determined by the country’s geographic position near the equator and the Atlantic Ocean. Temperature is even and warm throughout the year with extremely high humidity. The seasons are marked by variations in precipitation and not by changing temperature. The seasons are referred to as “rainy season” and “dry season.” The rainy season starts from April to October and is caused by the South Atlantic subtropical high called the southwest monsoon. Precipitation in Liberia is heavier than for most other parts of West Africa. This is caused by the run of the coastline from northwest to southeast which forms a right angle to the prevailing southwesterly winds which bears the rain. On the average, Liberia receives nearly 160 inches (2,000 m.) of rain per year. g. EconomyThe Liberian economy is dominated by the production of iron ore and rubber for export, mainly by foreign-owned enterprises. The export industry enclaves are the main sources of earnings and wage employment, and contribute a sizeable share of government revenue. The export sector can be called the monetary sector of the economy. Traditional agriculture, on the other hand, has minimal interaction with the monetary economy, but supports about 70% of the population at very low levels of productivity and income. The main products of traditional agriculture are rice, cassava, palm products and sugarcane. The forestry sector contributes about 8-10% of the GDP. From 1973-1977, the contribution of this sector rose from 2.4% to 3.8% of GDP. The export earnings are received from few goods. In 1978, forest products held the third position after iron ore and rubber. HISTORY OF CONSERVATIONThe foundation for conservation and development of forestry and forest industry in Liberia is the “Act for the Conservation of Forests in the Republic of Liberia” of 1953. This resulted in the creation of the then “Bureau of Forestry and Wildlife Conservation” under the Ministry of Agriculture. The forest policy principles emphasize: a. Maximum utilization of the forest resources; b. Increase in added value achieved by further processing of round wood; and c. Guarantee of sustained field through such measures as reforestation. The legislation sought to clarify the status and ownership of all forest areas, i.e., areas which produce timber and which fall under the jurisdiction of the law. The establishment of forest reserves, national forests, succeeded in placing the majority of the closed high forests under legal protection. As a result, ten forest reserves, totalling about 15,663 km², more than 16% of the country’s land area were set aside as national forests. a. Wildlife ConservationPrior to the events that culminated into the then Bureau of Forestry and Wildlife Conservation becoming a public corporation by an Act of Legislature in November, 1976, there were numerous attempts by a few individuals to initiate a viable wildlife conservation program in Liberia. A prominent figure among these individuals is Dr. Kai Gurry-Lindahl. His reports entitled, Report to the Government of the Republic of Liberia on Conservation, Management and Utilization of Wildlife Resources (1969) and A Conservation Plan for Liberia with Special Emphasis on Wildlife Resources and the Nimba Area (1973-1977), summarize the approach to a comprehensive wildlife conservation plan for Liberia. His efforts were then complemented by the establishment of a Wildlife Section in the Forestry Development Authority (FDA). The Wildlife Section with a small staff embarked on an intensive training program that resulted into nine trained personnel at various levels, three of which have since left the Forestry Development Authority for various reasons. The training paid off with the initiation of a nationwide wildlife conservation education and awareness program. This program stimulated the organization of the Wildlife Society of Liberia. Other immediate preoccupation of the wildlife regulations is the establishment of protected areas and an extended public relations campaign. Through the years 1977 to 1983, the success of the Wildlife Section was minimal although tremendous efforts were made to establish a viable wildlife conservation program with a system of protected areas throughout the country. As a result of an ecological survey conducted in late 1978 and early 1979 under the sponsorship of the IUCN and WWF, seven forest areas were selected to be set aside for national parks and nature reserves; a portion of the Sapo National Forest was among selected areas. Other areas included in the study were: Cape Mount Forest, Lofa-Mano National Forest, Mount Nimba Forest, Cavalla Forest and the Wonegezi Mountain Range. b. Liberia’s Conservation AreasLiberia occupies part of the Guinea Forest Block and in its climax vegetational state would be covered with lowland tropical rain forest. Liberia, however, is not entirely homogeneous. With this in mind, Liberia’s conservation areas were surveyed to include large tracts of this unique ecosystem and biographical features. At the same time, every attempt was made to prevent human conflict within conservation zones. Therefore, many of Liberia’s existing and potential conservation areas were chosen not only for some important faunal, floral or geological feature, but because of the low population and few valuable timber and mineral resources existing inside the park. The following lists Liberia’s proposed national parks and nature reserves, including some of the features that lend them their unique value. (i) Wonegezi Mountain Range This area contains some of the highest elevations in Liberia. Here can be found the only remaining area in Liberia with an intact example of a transitional vegetative type between lowland and montane rain forest. (ii) Cape Mount (Nature Reserve) This nature reserve contains Liberia’s only rocky shoreline. A coastal forest which holds high tourist value. (iii) Mount Nimba (Nature Reserve) Although already substantially degraded by logging concessions and mining encroachment, this forest is Liberia’s highest and merits strict protection. (iv) Cavalla Forest (Nature Reserve) Containing prime lowland tropical rain forest and abundant representative wildlife, this area on the border with Ivory Coast is destined for timber exploration if not officially proclaimed. (v) Lofa-Mano National Park This park (not officially proclaimed at this time) may contain 1/3 of Liberia’s elephants and pristine riverine habitat. This, the largest of Liberia’s proposed national parks, is quickly losing its boundary lines to shifting subsistence farmers. (vi) Cestos-Senkwen National Park This proposed park contains a good representation of Liberia’s native fauna and flora, has a major river running through it (Cestos), and endangered littoral forest including an important mangrove ecosystem. (vii) Sapo National Park Now officially proclaimed, this park still lacks the necessary policing force to enforce its boundaries. The area includes almost entirely primary evergreen forest, abundant wildlife and plant species, and is easily accessible along the Sinoe River. c. Common Tree and Large Mammal Species of LiberiaCommon tree species in Liberia are many. Some of the more prominent species include Terabilinia spp, Parkia bicolor, Parinaria spp, Sacoglotus gabonensis, Pentadesma spp, Piptadeniastrum Africanum, Lophiraalata, Terminapia spp and Wapaca spp, all conspicuous trees of the forest canopy. Secondary forest species found typically in Liberia include Musanga cecropioides, Anthocleista nobilis or Parviflora and Fagara macrophylls. Secondary forest makes up to 30% of Liberia’s forest cover. Wildlife species worthy of mention are primates (over eight species in Liberia including the chimpanzee), forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), leopard (Panthera pardus), pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis), bongo antelope (Tragelaphus euryceros) and Jentink’s duiker (Cepholophus jentinki). Avian species are especially numerous in Liberia with over 500 recorded birds. Liberia contains a good representation from the reptilian class with three types of crocodiles, Nile monitor lizard and abundant snake life; most notably the gaboon viper, boomslang, green mamba and forest cobra. d. Population Status of Liberia Key Wildlife SpeciesLittle research has been done in inventorying mammalian species in Liberia. Therefore, not much is known of their relative population status. Elephants, estimated at 500 animals in 1980, probably exist well below that number now. Their habitat is being quickly reduced and isolated and poaching is a severe problem. Chimpanzee (Pantroglodytes), shot as agricultural pests, and taken alive for experimentation, pets and export, are openly persecuted. The unique pygmy hippopotamus (found only in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone) is apparent in Liberia’s rivers, but hunted relentlessly. A bright spot in the conservation picture might be the forest duikers (Cephaloph spp). Even while sustaining heavy hunting pressure, many of the forest duikers seem to be thriving, even in secondary forest habitat. Little is known, however, of Africa’s rarest forest duiker, the Jentink’s duiker (recorded only in Liberia and Ivory Coast). This unique animal is regarded as “white antelope” in Liberia and merits further study before its numbers are allowed to decline more. The dwarf forest buffalo is an adaptable species still wide spread in Liberia but hunted doggedly where sighted. This animal has adapted well to the savanna type habitat that now occurs along parts of Liberia’s coastline. The bongo, one of the most magnificently marked forest antelopes, does exist in Liberia, but its numbers remain uncertain and unstudied. Finally, the monkeys (including Mangabeys cercocebus spp, Colobus colobus spp, and Guenons cercopithecus spp), are perhaps one of the best indicators of the decline of wildlife species in Liberia. Once common and abundant in most rural and semirural communities, heavy hunting pressure has greatly reduced many species’ numbers. Most monkeys (although some species continue to be agricultural pests), including the highly endangered olive colobus, Colobus verus, and Diana monkey, Cercopithecus diana, are restricted to remaining patches of primary forest. THE SAPO NATIONAL PARKThe findings of the ecological survey gained the attraction of both local and international naturalists. As a result, it was preliminarily decided that one or two areas be identified for national parks. This resulted into the selection of Sapo National Forest being an area with less national interest for mineral resource exploitation. The first preliminary indepth study in the Sapo Forest was led by Dr Phillip T. Robinson of the San Diego Zoo, California in early 1980. It was through this study that tremendous efforts were made to establish the Sapo National Forest, the first national park of Liberia. The original size of the Sapo National Forest was 378,000 acres or 590.9 square miles. The survey to establish the actual boundaries of the then proposed Sapo National Park deleted 85.6 square miles because of encroachment on the forest by settlements and farming activities. The Sapo National Park obtained its actual status on 17th May, 1983 through Decree 73 of the then People’s Redemption Council. The Sapo National Park is one of the last remaining blocks of tropical lowland rain forest in Liberia. It was saved from logging because of the low grade commercial timber quality found there during the German Forestry Mission forest inventory of Liberia from 1960-1967. Again, the exploration for valuable mineral deposits did not materialize. However, the park still faces tremendous pressure on all sides of its boundaries by timber concessions, farming and hunting. The staff of eight park guards, two rangers, two United States Peace Corps Volunteers and a park warden is far below the required administrative and manpower needs. ROLE OF UNITED STATES PEACE CORPSThe involvement of Peace Corps/Liberia in the conservation and development of the wildlife resources of Liberia goes back five years, when the Forestry Development Authority requested volunteers to serve as wildlife technicians. In response to this request, two volunteers were assigned to the then proposed Sapo National Park. Further in 1984, the third volunteer joined the program. Peace Corps involvement has not been limited to the provision of personnel. For over the past three years, we continue to assist with human resource development, input supply and conservation of the valuable wildlife resources of Liberia. Volunteers in the program along with their Liberian counterparts have initiated an education awareness program in areas surrounding the park. In 1982, Peace Corps invited the participation of the Forestry Development Authority to the Forestry Workshop in Mombasa, Kenya. In addition, through the Peace Corps/USAID collaborative efforts, equipment and supplies were provided to the wildlife program amounting to over $7,000.00 (Seven Thousand Dollars). Peace Corps/Liberia is committed towards the development of the Sapo National Park and the conservation of Liberia’s wildlife resources. Hopefully, by proclaiming the Sapo National Forest as the first national park, we envisage working very closely with the Forestry Development Authority in identifying areas of priority. In the next three months to come, the future of Sapo will be determined by the convening of a workshop for the planning and management of the park. It is anticipated that this will develop the framework for designing a master plan. Directory: 2013 2013 -> Annual InStructional unit plan 2013 -> The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine 2013 -> #1 a lifesafer of virginia inc 2013 -> Name(s): your name here team or Group #(if applicable): Professor’s name 2013 -> Alcott Local School Council (lcs) Meeting Minutes 2013 -> Table Of Contents introduction 2 2013 -> Supplemental demographic information 2013 -> 【Education&Working Experience】 Download 46.38 Kb. Share with your friends:
|