A detailed report on the many findings of the action day, including an account of the identified species and their functions in the ecosystem, can be found in the downloads section further below. Here is a brief summary:
ECOLOGY: The Bakingili Community Forest (BCF) is a type of montane ecosystem that has suffered degradation. The area of the BCF can be divided into four ecological zones, namely: i) The CDC Oil Palm plantation zone; ii) A seemingly fallowed farmland that starts from a gentle slope suddenly rising towards a secondary forest area; iii) A Transition Belt characterized by degraded secondary forest and long abandoned farmland; iv) The high Forest Belt.
FLORA: During a survey in 1998 botanists found and identified 2435 different specis of plants, underlining the spectacular biodiversity in the region. During this field trip a total of 12 species belonging to 10 families were identified in the high forest belt, some of which providing interesting ecosystem services.
MAMMALS: The Mount Cameroon region is well known for its highly diverse mammalian fauna with a good number being endemic to the region. During the field trip not a single mammal could be spotted which might partly be due to the noise of our big group. But it appears, since mammals are especially vulnerable to habitat degradation and destruction, that the real degree of degradation was displayed by the absence of mammals. Even indirect observation (tracks, feeding traces and feces) could not reveal the presence of mammals in the BCF, again underlining the high degree of degradation in the area.
BIRDS:
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS: The habitat examined appeared to be suitable for some tree-frog species and some snakes. During the field visit we were unfortunately unable to identify any reptiles or amphibians. We got a glimpse of one lizard which disappeared immediately in the dense undergrowth making identification impossible. Due to the absence of streams or ponds it was stated that the sighting of numerous frog or chameleon species was unlikely anyways. It was also stated that good management and thus protection of the remaining forest area could nevertheless help to provide a habitat for decent population of reptiles and amphibians.
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES: Even though Cameroon is known as a country with high numbers of butterfly and moth species, only two species of butterflies could be found during our field visit. This alarmingly low diversity is most likely due to the extensive use of pesticides and herbicides in the plantations surrounding the BCF.
ANTS: Opposing to most of the other taxa examined, the ants were quite abundant and the number of species found was relatively high. Within the family Formidae (Ants), 6 sub-familys were identified, comprising 8 genus and 12 species. Besides the impressive diversity we were also able to observe a symbiosis between one of the ant species and a tree species. The tree has specialized structures that shelter ants and thus provides the ants with nesting sites and food via production of extrafloral nectar. The workers of the ants patrol young leaves in order to protect their host against herbivorous insects, thus creating a mutual association between the plant and the ant colony.
NON TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS (NTFP's):
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Presentation_Biodiversity_Action_Day_Cameroun.pdf A very lively presentation on the Biodiversity Action Day 2010 in Limbe, Bakingili, Cameroun |
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Report_Biodiversity_Action_Day_Cameroun.pdf Full report on species, findings and results of the Camerounian Biodiversity Action Day 2010 |
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Photos: Peter Schauerte, GTZ
