Sapo National Park

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Sapo National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Sapo National Park
Location of Sapo National Park in Sinoe County (highlighted)
Location of Sapo National Park in Sinoe County (highlighted)
Location: Sinoe County, Liberia
Nearest city: Greenville
Area: 1,804 km² (697 sq mi)
Established: 1983
Governing body: Forestry Development Authority

Sapo National Park is a national park in Sinoe County, Liberia. It is the country's largest protected area of rainforest[1] and its only national park,[2][3] and contains the second-largest area of primary tropical rainforest in West Africa after Taï National Park in neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire.[4] Agriculture, construction, fishing, hunting, human settlement, and logging are prohibited in the park.[5][6]

Sapo National Park is located in the Upper Guinean forest ecosystem,[7] a biodiversity hotspot that has "the highest mammal species diversity of any region in the world", according to Conservation International,[8][9] and in the Western Guinean lowland forests ecoregion, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature's ecoregions classification scheme.[10]


Geography and climate

Located in Sinoe County in southwestern Liberia, Sapo National Park covers an area of 1,804 km² (697 sq mi).[11] The park is bounded to the north by the Putu Mountains and to the west by the Sinoe River.[12] The park's quite homogeneous, flat and marshy topography supports a large area of uninhabited forest.[13][14] Its southeastern area has lower elevations of approximately 100 m (328 ft) and gentle hills, while there are elevations of about 400 m (1,312 ft) and steep ridges in the north. There are many small streams and rivers between these ridges. Sinoe River is the largest river in the park. Mount Putu's 640 m (2,100 ft) summit is the highest elevation in the park.[13]

The park has a tropical climate, with temperatures ranging between 22–28 °C (72–82 °F). The forest's average relative humidity is 91%. Annual precipitation at Basintown, 4 km (2 mi) south of the park's headquarters, averaged 2,596 mm (100 in) in the 1980s. The park's dry season occurs from November to April and the wet season lasts from May to October. January and December are the driest months in the park, and May and August are the wettest months. There is a mid-dry period of decreased rainfall in July, which occasionally extends into August. During the dry season, many of the smaller streams dry up and their sandy and rocky stream beds are exposed. The dry season also causes the larger rivers shrink in size, exposing waterfalls and sandbars. In the rainy season, river levels can rise by more than 4 m (13 ft) in one night, inundating forests near the rivers.[13]

Biodiversity

From the airplane I stare down upon this forest for the first time. ... Below me is a block of peacock, kelly, and olive green stretching out to the horizon. I search for breaks in the canopy but find none. As far as my eyes can see, the earth is solid rainforest.

William Powers , Blue Clay People (2005)

Flora

Liberia has the largest remaining part of the Upper Guinean forest ecosystem, with an estimated 42% of the remaining forest. The rest of the Upper Guinean forest is located in Côte d'Ivoire (28% of the remaining forest), Ghana (16%), Guinea (8%), Sierra Leone (5%), and Togo (1%). Just an estimated 40-45% of Liberia's original forest cover remains,[15] and less than 30% of its area is covered by natural forest.[14] Its tracts of forest were once continuous, but are now fragmented into blocks that are isolated from each other as a result of logging, road-building, cultivation, and human settlements.[16] Before the civil war, the Forestry Development Authority calculated that about 35% of Liberia's original forest was "undisturbed", 45% was "disturbed but productive", and 20% was "disturbed and unproductive."[15] Sapo National Park's forest is one of the country's last remaining blocks of tropical lowland rain forest,[13] and one of West Africa's least disturbed lowland rainforests.[15] It is the second-largest area of primary tropical rainforest in West Africa after Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire.[4]

The park has one of the richest amounts of floral species in the country, with many endemic species.[13][17] A 1983 survey of the park determined it to be composed of 63% primary and mature secondary forest, 13% swamp forest, 13% seasonally inundated forest, and 11% young secondary forest. The forest is luxuriant, with trees that can grow to a height of 70 m (230 ft). The forest canopy's height ranges from 12–32 m (39–105 ft), with an average height of 25 m (82 ft). Plant species found in the park include the legumes Tetraberlinia tubmaniana and Gilbertiodendron splendidum, and the tree Brachystegia leonensis.[13]

Fauna

Sapo National Park contains the largest Pygmy Hippopotamus populations in Liberia.

Sapo National Park is a "regional centre of endemism"[18] and biodiversity, at one time hosting around 125 mammal species and 590 types of bird,[19] including a number of threatened species,[20] such as the African Golden Cat, Drill, Gola Malimbe, Liberian Mongoose, White-breasted Guineafowl, and White-necked Rockfowl. The park is also home to the African Civet, African Fish Eagle, African Grey Parrot, Giant Forest Hog, Great Blue Turaco, Speckle-throated Otter,[21] water chevrotain, three species of pangolin, seven species of monkey (including the endangered Diana Monkey[22]), crocodiles,[19] leopards,[23] bee-eaters, egrets, hornbills,[24] kingfishers, rollers, and sunbirds.[25][26][12]

Prior to the formal designation of Sapo National Park in 1983 there had been "no systematic study of chimpanzee populations in Liberia". Since then, various surveys have confirmed the existence of the Common Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) in Sapo National Park, located primarily in the park's center and western areas, with estimates of the population ranging from 500 to 1,640.[27] The culture of the local Sapo people includes a reverence for the chimpanzee and, therefore, a taboo against their hunting.[22][28]

Sapo National Park hosted up to 500 African Forest Elephants in the early 1980s.

Seven species of Duiker antelopes are found in Sapo National Park,[12] including the vulnerable Jentink's Duiker (Cephalophus jentinki) and Zebra Duiker (Cephalophus zebra).[26] Bay Duikers (Cephalophus dorsalis) and Maxwell's Duikers (Cephalophus maxwellii) are reported to be locally abundant.[14]

Sapo National Park contains populations of the Pygmy Hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis), an endangered species which has legal protection in Liberia under the Wildlife and National Park Act of 1988.[2] Unique to West Africa, the wild population of Pygmy Hippopotamuses is thought to number less than 3,000 individuals.[29] According to the World Conservation Union (IUCN), conservation efforts targeted at the species have "historically been most effective in the Sapo National Park ... where protection is good".[2] According to an action plan published by the IUCN Species Survival Commission, Sapo National Park is "the only realistic choice" of a "of suitable conservation area" for the Pygmy Hippopotamus.[30] In February 2008, automatic heat- and motion-sensing cameras set up in Sapo National Park captured the first photographs of the Pygmy Hippopotamus ever taken in Liberia.[29][31] The photographs confirmed the continued presence of the species inside the boundaries of the park; previously, scientists did not know whether the Pygmy Hippopotamus population in the park had survived the civil wars and subsequent poaching and logging.[31][32]

The endangered African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is also present in Sapo National park, with population estimates ranging from "as many as 500" for the early 1980s[25][33] to between 313[34] and 430[35] for the end of the decade; however, the IUCN considers the most recent surveys—both of which relied on dung counts—to be of low quality and reliability.[36][37]

Notes

  1. ↑ Outram, Quentin (2003). "Liberia", Africa South of the Sahara 2004. Europa Publications, 611–18. ISBN 978-1-85743-183-4. Retrieved 2007-12-11. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lewison, R., and Oliver, W. (2006). Hexaprotodon liberiensis. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
  3. ↑ Eltringham, S.K. (1993). "The Pygmy Hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis)", in William L. R. Oliver: Pigs, Peccaries, and Hippos: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. Gland, Switzerland: World Conservation Union, 55–60. ISBN 2-8317-0141-4. Retrieved 2007-12-12. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Boesch, Christophe, and Hedwige Boesch-Achermann (2000). The Chimpanzees of the Tai Forest: Behavioural Ecology and Evolution. Oxford University Press, 10. ISBN 978-0-19-850507-5. Retrieved 2007-12-11. 
  5. ↑ Streissguth, Tom (2006). Liberia in Pictures. Twenty-First Century Books, 15. ISBN 978-0-8225-2465-6. Retrieved 2007-12-11. 
  6. ↑ Kahler, Peter, "Liberia; Massive Logging and Hunting Worry Liberian Conservationist", Africa News, AllAfrica, Inc, 1999-03-29.
  7. ↑ Upper Guinea Forest Ecosystem. Conservation Priority-Setting Workshop. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  8. ↑ Powers, William, "Seeing the Forest for the Peace", The New York Times, 2005-01-10. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
  9. ↑ Guinean Forests of West Africa. Biodiversity Hotspots. Conservation International. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
  10. ↑ Western Guinean lowland forests (AT0130). World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named SNPA
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Riley
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Sapo National Park. UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (January 1989). Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Peal, A.L., and K.R. Kranz (1990). "Liberia", in Rod East: Antelopes: Global Survey and Regional Action Plans, Part 3. West and Central Africa. Gland, Switzerland: World Conservation Union, 47–50. ISBN 2-8317-0016-7. Retrieved 2007-12-12. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Russell, Diane; Skye Sieber (2005-11-21). Preliminary Biodiversity and Tropical Forest Conservation Assessment for USAID/Liberia (doc). Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  16. ↑ Liberia's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PDF) pp. xv. Convention on Biological Diversity. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  17. ↑ Liberia's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PDF) pp. 36. Convention on Biological Diversity. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  18. ↑ Beentje, H.J. (1996). "Centres of plant diversity in Africa", in L.J.G. van der Maesen, X.M. van der Burgt, and J.M. van Medenbach de Rooy: The Biodiversity of African Plants: Proceedings, XIVth AETFAT Congress, 22–27 August 1994, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 101–09. ISBN 978-0-7923-4095-9. Retrieved 2007-12-11. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Kahler-2
  20. ↑ Stuart, Simon N., and Richard J. Adams (eds) (1990). Biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa and its Islands: Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use. Gland, Switzerland: World Conservation Union, 123. ISBN 2-8317-0021-3. Retrieved 2007-12-11. 
  21. ↑ Irish, Paul, "Otters to get deluxe suite", Toronto Star, 1989-03-14, p. E2.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Powers
  23. ↑ Shiner, Cindy, "Large Weapons Stockpiles Could Prolong Liberia War", The Christian Science Monitor, 1992-12-01, p. 5.
  24. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Clark
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named LaRue-1
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Oates
  27. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Nisbett
  28. ↑ Howard, Robert (2007-05-08). Sapo National Park. EDGE of Existence programme. Zoological Society of London. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Owen, James, "Pygmy Hippo Caught on Camera", National Geographic News, 2008-03-11. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  30. ↑ Eltringham, S.K. (1993). "Review of Priorities for Conservation Action and Future Research on Hippopotamuses", in William L. R. Oliver: Pigs, Peccaries, and Hippos: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. Gland, Switzerland: World Conservation Union, 61–65. ISBN 2-8317-0141-4. Retrieved 2007-12-12. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Connor, Steve, "Mysterious pygmy hippo caught on camera at last", The Independent, 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  32. ↑ Fumera, Jr., Orlando, "Rare Pygmy Hippo Found In Africa", All Headline News, 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
  33. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named LaRue-2
  34. ↑ Barnes, R.F.W., and A. Dunn (2002). Estimating forest elephant density in Sapo National Park (Liberia) with a rainfall model. African Journal of Ecology 40 (2): 159–63.
  35. ↑ Anstey, S., and A. Dunn (March 1991). "Forest elephants in Liberia: status and conservation". Unpublished report to WWF.
  36. ↑ Blanc, J.J., R.F.W. Barnes, G.C. Craig, H.T. Dublin, C.R. Thouless, I. Douglas-Hamilton, and J.A. Hart (2007). African Elephant Status Report 2007: An update from the African Elephant Database (PDF), Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 33, Gland, Switzerland: IUCN, 198. ISBN 978-2-8317-0970-3. Retrieved 2007-12-14. 
  37. ↑ Barnes, R.F.W., G.C. Craig, H.T. Dublin, G. Overton, W. Simons, and C.R. Thouless (1999). African Elephant Database 1998 (PDF), Occasional Paper of the IUCN Species Survival Commission No. 22, Gland, Switzerland: IUCN, 196. ISBN 2-8317-0492-8. Retrieved 2007-12-14. 

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Coordinates: 5°24′40.01″N 8°24′52.65″W / 5.4111139, -8.414625

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