Key Biodiversity Areas- KBA Keita M. Kobele David Knox, Mamadou Saliou Diallo,Nema Soua Loua

OVERVIEW Project area Project area Prioritization Prioritization Preview methods Preview methods The concept of KBA The concept of KBA Outcomes Outcomes Analysis Analysis Next steps Next steps acknowledgements acknowledgements

The Republic of Guinea

Coordonates : 9°30N 13°43W Coordonates : 9°30N 13°43W9°30N 13°43W9°30N 13°43W Area : 245,857 km² Area : 245,857 km² Encompasses the water source for the Niger, Senegal, and Gambie Rivers, with a coastline (320 km) facing the Atlantic Ocean. Encompasses the water source for the Niger, Senegal, and Gambie Rivers, with a coastline (320 km) facing the Atlantic Ocean. Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt as well agricultural resources Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt as well agricultural resources The country possesses over 30% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in The country possesses over 30% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in Population: 9,690,222 (July 2006 est.) Population: 9,690,222 (July 2006 est.) Population below poverty line: 47% Population below poverty line: 47% Environment agreement : party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Environment agreement : party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

The Guinean Forests of West Africa Hotspot-

Hotspot Original Extent (km2) : 620,314 Hotspot Original Extent (km2) : 620,314 Hotspot Vegetation Remaining (km2): 93,047 Hotspot Vegetation Remaining (km2): 93,047 Endemic Plant Species: 1800 Endemic Plant Species: 1800 Human Population Density (people/km2): 137 Human Population Density (people/km2): 137 Area Protected (km2) : 108,104 Area Protected (km2) : 108,104 The Guinean Forest: Characteristics while west Africa is important, it does not tell us where to work on the ground = identify priority sites for conservation (e.g KBAs).

Threats Habitat lost Habitat lost wood cutting wood cutting Cultivation Cultivation Mining/Industrial operation Mining/Industrial operation Bushfire Bushfire Building/roads Building/roads Human population increase Illegal hunting and breeding sites disturbance Illegal hunting and breeding sites disturbance

Prioritization for biodiversity conservation Prioritization for biodiversity conservation resources for conservation are limited resources for conservation are limited where to act first ?? where to act first ?? Focus: high irreplaceability and high vulnerability Focus: high irreplaceability and high vulnerability

Experts identified 13 broad regions across Guinea (~ 2.54 % of Guinea surface area) based on 7 taxonomic groups Experts identified 13 broad regions across Guinea (~ 2.54 % of Guinea surface area) based on 7 taxonomic groups. Preview method 1: West African Priorities Setting workshop

Strength and limitations Excellent in that they build consensus Excellent in that they build consensus but they lack comprehensive data and objective criteria. This leaves 2 major limitations: but they lack comprehensive data and objective criteria. This leaves 2 major limitations: 1) they are not transparent or repeatable 1) they are not transparent or repeatable 2) given there are no quantitative criteria or targets 2) given there are no quantitative criteria or targets it makes monitoring any conservation impossible

Preview method 2 Important Bird Areas- IBA program 18 IBAs covering 2.9% of the Guinean land surface 18 IBAs covering 2.9% of the Guinean land surface

Strength and limitations Provides the data-driven approach with quantitative, repeatable criteria. Provides the data-driven approach with quantitative, repeatable criteria. Major limitation: Only focuses on a single taxon (birds) Major limitation: Only focuses on a single taxon (birds)

The Key Biodiversity Areas concepts Key Biodiversity Areas : Key Biodiversity Areas : sites of global significance for biodiversity conservation sites of global significance for biodiversity conservation data-driven, data-driven, multi-taxonomic approach a multi-taxonomic approach a guide conservation investment and interventions guide conservation investment and interventions Criteria: presence of: Criteria: presence of: globally threatened species according to the IUCN Red List: Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered globally threatened species according to the IUCN Red List: Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered restricted range species; restricted range species; globally significant congregations; globally significant congregations; Bioregionally-restricted species Bioregionally-restricted species Taxonomic groups covered: Reptiles, Amphibians, Mammals, Birds, Plants, Crustaceans, Taxonomic groups covered: Reptiles, Amphibians, Mammals, Birds, Plants, Crustaceans,

Methods Definition of the Guinean IUCN redlist: CR, EN, VU Definition of the Guinean IUCN redlist: CR, EN, VU Base: BirdLife International one taxonomic approach and extended the others taxonomic groups Base: BirdLife International one taxonomic approach and extended the others taxonomic groups synthesizing threatened species distributional data synthesizing threatened species distributional data collating and analysing these data to identify Key Biodiversity Areas collating and analysing these data to identify Key Biodiversity Areas Input from scientists with core understanding of Guinean Biodiversity Input from scientists with core understanding of Guinean Biodiversity

Outcomes 28 KBAs identified, representing 5 % of Guinea surface area 28 KBAs identified, representing 5 % of Guinea surface area 72 Globally Threatened Species assessed 72 Globally Threatened Species assessed

KBAs indentified within Guinea SENEGAL SIERRALEONE LIBERIA MALI COTEDIVOIRE GUINEABISSAU

Guinea Low Land region I GUINEABISSAU

Guinea Low Land region II

Guinea Low Land region III SIERRALEONE

Central Guinea SENEGAL GUINEABISSAU

Upper Guinea MALI COTEDIVOIRE SIERRALEONE

The Forest Region of Guinea LIBERIA COTEDIVOIRE

some sites some sites Les Monts Nimba, an AZE site 6 endemic Critically Endangered and Endangered species: Les Monts Nimba, an AZE site 6 endemic Critically Endangered and Endangered species: Arthroleptis crusculum, Hipposideros lamottei, Hyperolius nimbae, Micropotamogale lamottei, Nimbaphrynoides liberiensis, Nimbaphrynoides occidentalis Le Massif de Ziama, Diécké and Pic de fon also hold strongholds of many Afromontane Upper Guinea Forest Endemics Le Massif de Ziama, Diécké and Pic de fon also hold strongholds of many Afromontane Upper Guinea Forest Endemics

AnalysisMammalian - Birds: - Amphibians Reptiles - Bats - Plants: Taxonomic analysis: Criteria analysis: - Critically Endanger (CR): - Endanger (EN): - Vulnerable (VU): KBAs Status analysis: - Strict Nature Reserve - National Park Classified Forests 2415 Total protected: 21 => 75%, but…

NEXT Update the assessment particularly for freshwater taxa Update the assessment particularly for freshwater taxa Engage Private sector in KBAs Engage Private sector in KBAs Rio Tinto :Forest Guinea (biological surveys) Rio Tinto :Forest Guinea (biological surveys) Alcoa: Maritime Guinea (biological surveys, other data gathering) Alcoa: Maritime Guinea (biological surveys, other data gathering) BHP Billinton - Guinea ( biological surveys, data gathering) BHP Billinton - Guinea ( biological surveys, data gathering) Define accurate boundaries for these KBAs = GIS PROJECT … Define accurate boundaries for these KBAs = GIS PROJECT …

Our Project : Conservation GIS in Guinea Objective: Make available the Conservation GIS data and provide technical assistance to conservation projects in Guinea Pilot project: Forests changes analysis in KBAs Phase 1: Data capture, storage Phase 1: Data capture, storage Phase 2: Changes analysis and results Phase 2: Changes analysis and results Phase 3: Outputs : posters, web site… Phase 3: Outputs : posters, web site…

Acknowledgments Center of Applied Biodiversity Science, CI; Center of Applied Biodiversity Science, CI; Guinée Ecologie Guinée Ecologie Dptmt Nature Conservation, Guinea Dptmt Nature Conservation, Guinea SCGIS SCGIS ESRI ESRI All those who are not listed All those who are not listed

Biodiversity Conservation is linked to human livelihoods' THANK YOU