Gola Forest : SIERRA LEONE
The Gola Forest, at 750 square km, is the largest area of lowland rain forest remaining in Sierra Leone, and is one of the most important sites for the conservation of threatened wildlife in the country. It consists of three reserves that are located in the Eastern and Southern Provinces, about 330km southeast of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. The three forest reserves, which comprise Gola Forest (Gola North, 45,800 ha; Gola East 22,800 ha; Gola West 6,200 ha), are located in the Eastern and Southern Provinces, about 330km southeast of Freetown. Gola forest covers parts of the Gaura, Tunkia, Nomo, and Koya Chiefdoms in the Kenema District; Barri and Makpele Chiefdoms in the Pujehun District; and Malema Chiefdom in the Kailahun District. The forest forms part of Sierra Leone's border with the Republic of Liberia. Small areas of forest remain outside the reserves and connect the reserves to each other and to forests in Liberia. Tiwai Island, in the Moa river, west of Gola West is part of the Gola forest IBA. The Gola Forest is the largest tract of closed canopy, lowland rain forest in Sierra Leone. Gola North is fairly hilly and rugged with most land lying over 300m asl, the highest point being 475 m. The Mogbai is the main river draining Gola North and its catchment area lies at the centre of the reserve. This river discharges east into the River Mano, which runs along the border with Liberia. Gola East and Gola West, which are separated by the Mahoi River, are low lying with swampy areas and a few low hills (up to 150 m). Bagra Hill (330 m) is the highest point in Gola East. G.D. Field recorded 216 species including 169 forest dependent species in the Gola forest between 1970 and 1976. He also discovered the Gola Malimbe in the Gola forest, although the first published description of the bird came from Cote d'Ivoire (Field, 1979; Thiollay, 1985). Davies (1987) did a surveyed of the forest primarily for mammals and alerted international conservation organisations to the presence of the White-breasted Guineafowl. Allport et al (1989) recorded 274 species including seven globally threatened species. Gola Forest is now known to hold eight globally threatened species (all of which are restricted to the Upper Guinea Forest block) - White-breasted Guineafowl (Vu), Rufous Fishing Owl (En), Western Wattled Cuckoo-shrike (Vu), Green-tailed Bristlebill (Vu), Yellow-throated Olive Greenbul (Vu), White-necked Picathartes (Vu), Nimba Flycatcher (Vu) and Gola Malimbe (En) - five near-threatened and one data deficient species. The forest is most certainly the country's stronghold for the vulnerable White-necked Rockfowl (52 breeding sites and over 116 active nests) and the endangered White-breasted Guinea- fowl (groups of up to 12 birds seen). The forest holds over 90% of the Guinea-Congo Forest biome species that occur in Sierra Leone.
Site description Gola Forest Reserve is the largest area of Upper Guinea rainforest in Sierra Leone. It occupies the south-eastern edge of the country and is divided into four sections: Gola North (45,800 ha), Gola East (22,800 ha) and Gola West (6,200 ha) are Forest Reserves, while Tiwai Island (1,300 ha) is a Game Sanctuary. Tiwai Island is situated in the Moa river, 10 km north-west of Gola West. Gola West and East are contiguous, separated only by the Mahoi river and a road, while Gola North lies about 5 km north-east of Gola East. Gola North is fairly hilly, with most land lying above 300 m and the highest point at 475 m. The main river draining Gola North is the Mogbai, and its catchment spans the centre of the reserve. This river discharges into the Mano river, which runs along the border with the Republic of Liberia. Gola East, Gola West and Tiwai are low-lying with swampy areas and a few hills. Bagra hill (150 m) is the highest point in Gola East. Dominant canopy tree species include Heritiera utilis and Cryptosepalum tetraphyllum with Erythrophleum ivorescens, Lophira alata, Brachystegia leonensis and Didelotia idae occurring in the lower strata. Canopy height is mainly between 30-35 m, with emergents reaching 50-55 m. Birds See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. To date, 274 species have been recorded, including 14 species of global conservation concern. Six of these have not, so far, been recorded elsewhere in Sierra Leone. The reserve holds the largest number of nesting sites of Picathartes gymnocephalus in the country (36 nesting sites, comprising 204 active nests). Groups of up to 12 Agelastes meleagrides have been recorded. The forest holds nearly 90% of Sierra Leone's species of the Guinea-Congo Forests biome.
The Gola forest at 750 square km (300 square miles) is Sierra Leone’s most important and most diverse forest. The Forest is a fragment of a once extensive forest belt that stretched across West Africa, commonly know in conservation circles as ‘The Upper Guinea Forest’. The vibrant history of human activity and its impact on these forests been well documented. The biggest impact began in colonial times, where the forests of the interior were heavily exploited. Much forest remains, but there are several, larger key fragments of these forests across the region. The largest of these can be found in Liberia. Most notable are Taï Forest National Park in Ivory Coast, the Gola Forest in Sierra Leone and largest and least known of all; the Lofa-Mano in Liberia. Over the last two years the RSPB, with its partners in Sierra Leone, undertook intensive biological surveys of the entire Gola forest. The survey team led by an RSPB Research Biologist surveyed over 180 km of the forest through the cutting of transects through the forest, identifying, measuring and counting trees, observing and counting birds and other animals. Significant efforts were made to train and develop field staff in this time. The partners also invited other top scientists and RSPB staff sabbaticals to survey the trees, butterflies and birds with some spectacular results. All of the key species found in the Gola Forest in past surveys have been spotted and new locations have been found for some. There are records now of over 330 species. The threatened Gola malimbe, a black and yellow weaverbird, found in the forest canopy has been seen in Gola for the first time since 1976, The rufous fishing-owl, also threatened, lives along the river banks of the Gola forest and has been spotted on several occasions, also for the first time in 20 years. Over 30 nesting sites of the white-necked picathartes (pictured) have been recorded. Most are outside the Gola Forest in the adjacent community forests, emphasising the need to build strong links with the local communities.
The Gola Forest, at 750 square km, is the largest area of lowland rain forest remaining in Sierra Leone, and is one of the most important sites for the conservation of threatened wildlife in the country. It consists of three reserves that are located in the Eastern and Southern Provinces, about 330km southeast of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. The three forest reserves, which comprise Gola Forest (Gola North, 45,800 ha; Gola East 22,800 ha; Gola West 6,200 ha), are located in the Eastern and Southern Provinces, about 330km southeast of Freetown. Gola forest covers parts of the Gaura, Tunkia, Nomo, and Koya Chiefdoms in the Kenema District; Barri and Makpele Chiefdoms in the Pujehun District; and Malema Chiefdom in the Kailahun District. The forest forms part of Sierra Leone's border with the Republic of Liberia. Small areas of forest remain outside the reserves and connect the reserves to each other and to forests in Liberia. Tiwai Island, in the Moa river, west of Gola West is part of the Gola forest IBA. The Gola Forest is the largest tract of closed canopy, lowland rain forest in Sierra Leone. Gola North is fairly hilly and rugged with most land lying over 300m asl, the highest point being 475 m. The Mogbai is the main river draining Gola North and its catchment area lies at the centre of the reserve. This river discharges east into the River Mano, which runs along the border with Liberia. Gola East and Gola West, which are separated by the Mahoi River, are low lying with swampy areas and a few low hills (up to 150 m). Bagra Hill (330 m) is the highest point in Gola East. G.D. Field recorded 216 species including 169 forest dependent species in the Gola forest between 1970 and 1976. He also discovered the Gola Malimbe in the Gola forest, although the first published description of the bird came from Cote d'Ivoire (Field, 1979; Thiollay, 1985). Davies (1987) did a surveyed of the forest primarily for mammals and alerted international conservation organisations to the presence of the White-breasted Guineafowl. Allport et al (1989) recorded 274 species including seven globally threatened species. Gola Forest is now known to hold eight globally threatened species (all of which are restricted to the Upper Guinea Forest block) - White-breasted Guineafowl (Vu), Rufous Fishing Owl (En), Western Wattled Cuckoo-shrike (Vu), Green-tailed Bristlebill (Vu), Yellow-throated Olive Greenbul (Vu), White-necked Picathartes (Vu), Nimba Flycatcher (Vu) and Gola Malimbe (En) - five near-threatened and one data deficient species. The forest is most certainly the country's stronghold for the vulnerable White-necked Rockfowl (52 breeding sites and over 116 active nests) and the endangered White-breasted Guinea- fowl (groups of up to 12 birds seen). The forest holds over 90% of the Guinea-Congo Forest biome species that occur in Sierra Leone.
Site description Gola Forest Reserve is the largest area of Upper Guinea rainforest in Sierra Leone. It occupies the south-eastern edge of the country and is divided into four sections: Gola North (45,800 ha), Gola East (22,800 ha) and Gola West (6,200 ha) are Forest Reserves, while Tiwai Island (1,300 ha) is a Game Sanctuary. Tiwai Island is situated in the Moa river, 10 km north-west of Gola West. Gola West and East are contiguous, separated only by the Mahoi river and a road, while Gola North lies about 5 km north-east of Gola East. Gola North is fairly hilly, with most land lying above 300 m and the highest point at 475 m. The main river draining Gola North is the Mogbai, and its catchment spans the centre of the reserve. This river discharges into the Mano river, which runs along the border with the Republic of Liberia. Gola East, Gola West and Tiwai are low-lying with swampy areas and a few hills. Bagra hill (150 m) is the highest point in Gola East. Dominant canopy tree species include Heritiera utilis and Cryptosepalum tetraphyllum with Erythrophleum ivorescens, Lophira alata, Brachystegia leonensis and Didelotia idae occurring in the lower strata. Canopy height is mainly between 30-35 m, with emergents reaching 50-55 m. Birds See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. To date, 274 species have been recorded, including 14 species of global conservation concern. Six of these have not, so far, been recorded elsewhere in Sierra Leone. The reserve holds the largest number of nesting sites of Picathartes gymnocephalus in the country (36 nesting sites, comprising 204 active nests). Groups of up to 12 Agelastes meleagrides have been recorded. The forest holds nearly 90% of Sierra Leone's species of the Guinea-Congo Forests biome.
The Gola forest at 750 square km (300 square miles) is Sierra Leone’s most important and most diverse forest. The Forest is a fragment of a once extensive forest belt that stretched across West Africa, commonly know in conservation circles as ‘The Upper Guinea Forest’. The vibrant history of human activity and its impact on these forests been well documented. The biggest impact began in colonial times, where the forests of the interior were heavily exploited. Much forest remains, but there are several, larger key fragments of these forests across the region. The largest of these can be found in Liberia. Most notable are Taï Forest National Park in Ivory Coast, the Gola Forest in Sierra Leone and largest and least known of all; the Lofa-Mano in Liberia. Over the last two years the RSPB, with its partners in Sierra Leone, undertook intensive biological surveys of the entire Gola forest. The survey team led by an RSPB Research Biologist surveyed over 180 km of the forest through the cutting of transects through the forest, identifying, measuring and counting trees, observing and counting birds and other animals. Significant efforts were made to train and develop field staff in this time. The partners also invited other top scientists and RSPB staff sabbaticals to survey the trees, butterflies and birds with some spectacular results. All of the key species found in the Gola Forest in past surveys have been spotted and new locations have been found for some. There are records now of over 330 species. The threatened Gola malimbe, a black and yellow weaverbird, found in the forest canopy has been seen in Gola for the first time since 1976, The rufous fishing-owl, also threatened, lives along the river banks of the Gola forest and has been spotted on several occasions, also for the first time in 20 years. Over 30 nesting sites of the white-necked picathartes (pictured) have been recorded. Most are outside the Gola Forest in the adjacent community forests, emphasising the need to build strong links with the local communities.
