Summary

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Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in Kounounkan Classified Forest.
The population size is unknown.
The population trend is unknown.
The site has a total area of 50.32 km².
The main threats are agricultural activities, poaching, logging and bushfire.
The conservation activities include anti-poaching patrols and awareness raising programs.

Site characteristics

Moussayah sub-prefecture, 36 km north of Forecariah’s capital, hosts a forest with one of the last intact humid coastal forests, preserved by its rugged terrain. It boasts rich biodiversity, including primates, birds, reptiles, insects, and diverse plant species with ecological and medicinal value. The landscape features freshwater areas, rocky slopes, and sandstone massifs, marking Kounounkan as a transition zone between rainforest and savannah (Barnett et al. 1994).

Table 1. Basic site information for Kounounkan Classified Forest

Species	Pan troglodytes verus
Area	50.32 km²
Coordinates	Lat: 9.553423 , Lon: -12.865055
Type of site	Non-protected area (Classified Forest)
Habitat types	Subtropical/tropical moist montane forest
Type of governance	Governance by government

Types of sites Governance types Habitat types

Ape status

According to the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) data, the last recorded sighting of chimpanzees in the Kounounkan Classified Forest was in 2015 (KBA 2025).

Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Kounounkan Classified Forest

Species	Year	Occurrence	Encounter or vistation rate (nests/km; ind/day)	Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI)	Abundance estimate (95% CI)	Survey area	Sampling method	Analytical framework	Source	Comments	A.P.E.S. database ID
Pan troglodytes verus	1994	Present				Kounounkan Classified Forest	Unknown		Barnett et al. 1994
Pan troglodytes verus	1995	Present				Kounounkan Classified Forest	Unknown		Barnett et al. 1996

Sampling methods Analytical frameworks

Threats

Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Kounounkan Classified Forest

Category	Specific threats	Threat level	Description	Year of threat
5 Biological resource use	5.1.1 Subsistence bushmeat hunting	Present (unknown severity)	Hunting especially for bushmeat, targeting primates and duikers was reported (Barnett et al. 1994).	Ongoing (1994)
2 Agriculture & aquaculture	2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Present (unknown severity)	Clearance of large areas for fields (TIPAS 2017).	Ongoing (2017)
2 Agriculture & aquaculture	2.3 Livestock farming & ranching	Present (unknown severity)	Cattle grazing, increased unseasonal fires across grassland (TIPAS 2017).	Ongoing (2017)
5 Biological resource use	5.3.1 Subsistence logging	Present (unknown severity)	Wood cutting on a subsistence level (TIPAS 2017).	Ongoing (2017)

Threats

Conservation activities

Kounounkan (also known as Kamalayah) Forêt Classé (Classified Forest) was created in 1994 (TIPAS 2017) with funding from the EU through UNOPS for the operationalization of the nature conservation corps (in terms of training and technical equipment). This support has helped to increase patrol coverage, reduce poaching in the reserve and raise awareness of chimpanzee status among local populations (UNOPS 2022). AFD has also financed the development of IGAs for local populations (AFD. n.d.).

Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Kounounkan Classified Forest

Category	Specific activity	Description	Implementing organization(s)	Year of activity
2 Counter-wildlife crime	2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols	Patrol coverage has been enhanced through guards-led patrols, supported by UNOPS training and equipment for data collection (UNOPS 2022).	OGPNRF, UNOPS	Ongoing (2022)
4 Education & awareness	4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use	The staff conduct awareness and information programs for local communities in and around the reserve, focusing on the national and international status of chimpanzees, relevant legal frameworks, and the ecological role of chimpanzees (UNOPS 2022).	UNOPS	Ongoing (2022)

Conservation activities

Challenges

Insufficient funding has prevented the implementation of certain activities, particularly the strengthening of the conservation status, the acquisition of equipment, and the development of the Management Plan outlined in the Kounounkan Annual Conservation Action Plan (CEPF 2012).

Table 5. Challenges reported for Kounounkan Classified Forest

Challenges	Specific challenges	Source	Year(s)
2 Resources and capacity	2.3 General lack of funding	CEPF 2012	2012.0
2 Resources and capacity	2.1 Lack of capacity/training	TIPAS 2017	2017.0
4 Institutional support	4.1 Lack of law enforcement	CEPF 2012	2012.0
4 Institutional support	4.3 Lack of protected area status	TIPAS 2017	2017.0
2 Resources and capacity	2.2 Lack of staff	TIPAS 2017	2017.0

Challenges

Enablers

Research activities

Documented behaviours

Exposure to climate change impacts

External links

UNOPS

AFD

KBA

References

Barnett, A., Prangley, M., Hayman, P. V., Diawara, D., & Koman, J. (1994). A preliminary survey of Kounounkan forest, Guinea, West Africa. Oryx, 28(4), 269-275.
Barnett, A. A., Prangley, M., Hayman, P. V., Diawara, D., & Koman, J. (1996). A survey of the mammals of the Kounounkan Massif, south-western Guinea, West Africa. Journal of African Zoology, 110(3), 235-240.
Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership. (2025). Key Biodiversity Areas factsheet: Kounounkan. In World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas. https://keybiodiversityareas.org/ (Accessed May 20, 2025)
TIPAS Project. (2017). Assessment report of the Kounounkan Forest, Guinea: Biodiversity conservation and management recommendations. Herbier Guinée. https://www.herbierguinee.org/uploads/2/6/3/0/26303479/11._tipas_report_kounounkan_new_final.pdf
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). (2012). [Title of report, e.g., "Conservation assessment of Grandes Chutes and Kounounkan forests, Guinea"]. https://www.cepf.net/sites/default/files/final.grandes.chutes.et_.kounounkan.pdf
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). (2022, June 17). Protecting flora and fauna in Guinea. https://www.unops.org/news-and-stories/stories/protecting-flora-and-fauna-in-guinea
Agence Française de Développement (AFD). (n.d.). Guinea. https://www.afd.fr/en/page-region-pays/guinea

Page created by: Aime Mizero Date: 2025-05-19