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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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BIA |
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| General Description |
The Bia Biosphere Reserve is situated in the west of Ghana close to the border to the Côte d'Ivoire and covers an area of 7,770 hectares. The biosphere reserve occupies an undulating terrain with an elevation between 170 and 240 meters above sea level. Located in the transition between the moist evergreen and moist semi-deciduous vegetation zone, the area is dominated by Celtis-Triplochiton associations, Teinghemella heckelii and Entadrophragma angolense. Many of Ghana’s major forest animals can be found in Bia, such as the forest elephant (Loxodonta african cyclotis), the globally endangered bongo (Tragelaphus euryceros) and many primates. About 14,000 people live in the biosphere reserve on a permanent and seasonal basis (1997). Their main economic activity is agriculture, with cocoa serving as the major cash crop. This is supported with tree crops, cereals, roots and tuber cultivation as well as small scale trading and animal husbandry. Snail gathering and apiculture has been introduced lately to promote income for local people. The site was part of the UNESCO-MAB project 'Biosphere Reserves for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in Anglophone Africa (BRAAF)'. Through this project, a dialogue between local communities and the biosphere reserve administration has been established with regard to participation in decision making processes and resource management. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Tropical humid forests | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | ||||
| Location | 6°32' to 6°37'N; 3°02' to 3°08'W | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 7,770 | |||
| Core area(s) | ||||
| Buffer zone(s) | ||||
| Transition area(s) when given | ||||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +145 to +230 | |||
| Year designated | 1983 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Bia National Park National Park Administration | |||
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| Brief description |
Elephant population research Primate species monitoring |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | n.a. | |||
| Biodiversity | Mammals, methodologies, population genetics/population dynamics. | |||
| Socio-economic | n.a. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | n.a. | |||
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| Contact address |
Bia National Parkland and Biosphere Reserve P.O. Box 171 Sefwi-Wiawso - Western Region Ghana |
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| Telephone | (233.21) 66 46 54 | |||
| Fax | (233.21) 66 64 76 | |||
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n.a. | |||
| Last updated: 6/9/1999 |
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