Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T01:50:56.129Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Rare plants on Mount Oku summit, Cameroon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Fiona G. Maisels ,
Martin Cheek  and
Chris Wild
Fiona G. Maisels*
Affiliation:
Kilum-ljim Forest Project, BirdLife International/Ministry of the Environment and Forestry, Cameroon, PO Box 119 Kumbo, North-West Province, Cameroon. fax: c/o CSS Banso +237481463
Chris Wild
Affiliation:
Mount Kupe Forest Project, WWF Cameroon, PO Box 2417, Douala, Cameroon.
*
(address for correspondence: BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 0NA, UK. Tel:+ 441223277318; fax: +441223277200) and ICAPB, Ashworth Laboratories, Edinburgh University, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road EH9 3JT, UK.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The forests of the Kilum-Ijim area, around Mount Oku in West Cameroon, are the largest remaining patch of montane forest in West Africa, and the highest in altitude. This important habitat harbours endemic species of both animals and plants but is surrounded by a high density of human settlements: c. 300,000 people live within a day's walk of the forest, which covers only 200 sq km. BirdLife International and the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry, Government of Cameroon, are currently operating the Kilum-Ijim Forest Project, with the overall goal of conserving representative areas of the Cameroon montane forest biome in the long-term. The purpose of the project is toensure that the biodiversity, extent and ecological processes of the Kilum-Ijim Forest are maintained and that the forest is used sustainably by the local communities. The existence of a small Sphagnum community and associated wetland plant species was discovered in 1997 on the summit of Mount Oku, at 2900 m. This site is of extremely high conservation importance because several plant species endemic to the Kilum-Ijim area have been recorded there. In addition, it is the highest Sphagnum bog and the source of the highest stream in West Africa.

Keywords

Cameroononservation managementendemic speciesfloramontane habitats
Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , April 2000 , pp. 136 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 2000

References

Bibby, C.J. (in press) Making the most of birds as environmental indicators. Ostrich, 70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cheek, M., Sabatie, B. & Onana, J.-M. (1997) Interim Report on Botanical Survey and Inventory for Kilum and Ijim Mountain Forest Projects by the National Herbarium, Cameroon and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Oct/Nov 1996. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and National Herbarium, Cameroon.Google Scholar
Collar, N.J. & Stuart, S.N. (1988) Key forests for threatened birds in Africa. International Council for Bird Preservation Monograph No. 3. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, UK.Google Scholar
ENGREF (1987) Massif d'Oku, Cameroon. Classement en Reserve et Principes pour un Plan Directeur d'Amenagement. ENGREF, University of Montpellier, France and Centre Universitaire de Dschang, Cameroon [in French].Google Scholar
Hepper, F.N. (1963) Dipsacaceae. In Flora of West Tropical Africa, vol. 2, 2nd edn (eds Hepper, F. N. and Keay, R. W.), pp. 223–224. Crown Agents, London.Google Scholar
Hepper, F.N. (1968) Liliaceae and Juncaceae. In Flora of West Tropical Africa, vol. 3, 2nd edn (eds Hepper, F. N. and Keay, R. W.), pp. 90–107. Crown Agents, London.Google Scholar
ICBP (1992) Appendix 5: Priority Listing of Endemic Bird Areas. Putting Biodiversity on the Map: Priority Areas for Global Conservation (eds Bibby, C. J., Collar, N. J., Crosby, M. J., Heath, M. F., Imboden, Ch., Johnson, T. H., Long, A. J., Stattersfield, A. J. and Thirgood, S. J.), p. 81. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, UK.Google Scholar
Kilum-Ijim Forest Project: Annual Reports (1993–1997) BirdLife International. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK and Kilum-Ijim Project, Kumbo, Cameroon.Google Scholar
Letouzey, R. (1985) Notice de la Carte Phytogeographique du Cameroun au 1:500000; Region Afro-montagnarde et Etage Submontagnard. IRA Yaounde, Cameroun/Institut de la Carte Internationale de la vegetation, Toulouse, France [in French].Google Scholar
Macleod, H. (1987) Conservation of Oku Mountain Forest, Cameroon. International Council for Bird Preservation Report no. 15, International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, UK.Google Scholar
Phillips, S.M. (1998) Two new species of Eriocaulon from West Africa. Kew Bulletin, 53, 943–948.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stattersfield, A., Crosby, M., Long, A.J. & Wege, D.C. (1998) Endemic Bird Areas of the World. Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.Google Scholar
Stuart, S.N. (ed.) (1986) The Conservation of the Montane Forests of Western Cameroon. Report of the International Council for Bird Preservation Cameroon Montane Forest Survey. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, UK.Google Scholar
Sutherland, W.J. & Hill, D.A. (1995) Managing Habitats for Conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tame, S. & Asonganyi, J. (1995) Vegetation Survey of the Ijim Mountain Forests, Northwest Province, Cameroon. Report BirdLife International/GEF World Bank/Ministry of the Environment and Forestry, Government of Cameroon.Google Scholar
Thomas, D.W. (1986) Vegetation in the montane forest of Cameroon. In The Conservation of the Montane Forests of Western Cameroon (ed. Stuart, S. N.), pp. 20–27. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, UK. Report of the International Council for Bird Preservation Cameroon Montane Forest Survey.Google Scholar