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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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DJA |
 © Photo: ECOFAC |
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| General Description |
The Dja Biosphere Reserve, located in the south of Cameroon, includes different geographic and climatic zones which contribute to its high biodiversity. The area comprises mainly dense evergreen Congo rainforest and is known to have a wide range of primate species. As the exploitation of timber resources increases, the Dja forest remains an important refuge for many plants and animal species, such as the moabi tree (Baillonella toxisperma). The Dja Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 500,000 hectares and includes 37 villages with approximately 6,000 people (1999). The harvest of plants for domestic or pharmaceutical use is a very important income source. Dja represents an ideal spot for commercial hunting supplying the capital of Cameroon with game meat. Apart from this, pressures on the biosphere reserve come from timber exploitation and a large population whose lands and traditional activities are situated within the core area. The ECOFAC Programme (Conservation et utilisation rationnelle des ECOsystèmes Forestiers d'Afrique Centrale) of the European Union, which started in 1993, supported studies on plant and animal biodiversity of Dja. It has also established an important training center for capacity building purposes and supplied equipment for the ‘Case UNESCO-MAB’ situated in the Mékas village. This 'case' is made available to NGOs in order to promote public awareness and the participation of local populations in the management of the biosphere reserve. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Tropical humid forests | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Dense evergreen Congo rainforest dominated by Sapotaceae including Afrostyrax lepidophyllus, Anopyxis klaineana and Anthonotha ferruginea; swamps; old secondary forest around villages; abandoned cocoa and coffee plantations; Gilbertiodendron dewevrei forest | |||
| Location | 02°40' to 03°23'N; 12°25' to 13°35'E | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 526,000 | |||
| Core area(s) | ||||
| Buffer zone(s) | ||||
| Transition area(s) when given | ||||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +400 to +800 | |||
| Year designated | 1981 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Réserve forestière et de faune du Dja | |||
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| Brief description |
4 research programmes running; Mapping of the different zones of the biosphere reserve |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | n.a. | |||
| Biodiversity | n.a. | |||
| Socio-economic | n.a. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | n.a. | |||
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| Contact address |
Armand Louis Paul Etoa Akoa Conservateur, Réserve de biosphère du Dja Yaoundé Cameroon |
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| Telephone | (237) 99 53 71 46 | |||
| Fax | ||||
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armandetoa@yahoo.com |
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| Web site | www.ecofac.org/Composantes/CamerounDja.htm | |||
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| Last updated: 10/9/2007 |
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