Parks and reserves of Ghana: Management Effectiveness ... - IUCN

season. Buffalos are also found in the Chai River and Asuokoko River Forest Reserves.
Bushbuck, red river hog and red-flanked duiker appear to be the most well distributed and
abundant species.
There are at least 235 different species of birds in Kyabobo. Lagden's bush shrike Malaconotus
lagdeni is listed as globally “Near Threatened” and is a new record for Ghana. One “Globally
Threatened” species occurs (following BirdLife International 2000): the "Data Deficient"
Baumann's Bulbul Phyllastrephus baumanni. The species is very widespread in Kyabobo,
particularly in farmbush and fire-induced forest clearings. It has adapted well to the invasive
Chromolaena odorata and is not considered endangered in Ghana.
The Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), was observed in Kyabobo in 2005 and is listed as
Vulnerable and indicates that the forest stream ecosystems in Kyabobo are of high quality and
should be protected. There are also several endemic frog species.
The butterflies of Kyabobo have been studied by Torben Larsen who found a new species,
Kyabobo laurencis, which is endemic to the area.
MOLE NATIONAL PARK (457 700 HA)
Mole National Park is Ghana's largest protected area and covers about 4,577 km². It is almost
entirely located in the Northern Region. Mole National Park is fairly undisturbed Guinea
Savannah. Most of the 742 plant species found in Mole are widespread throughout the
savannah zone. However, the species of conservation value (4 endemic, 12 disjunct and 24
species which are rare or have a very limited distribution) is relatively high. Their abundance is
generally low and they are often confined to small areas.
The vegetation of Mole National Park can be grouped into eight broad vegetation types, namely:
- 1 to 3. Open savannah woodland, which is the dominant vegetation type. The main
grasses are species of Andropogon and scattered herbs are found between them.
There are three main groups: (i) the Burkea - Terminalia savannah woodland with
Vitellaria paradoxa (the shea-nut tree); (ii) The Burkea - Terminalia savannah woodland
with Detarium microcarpum and (iii) Anogeissus with Vitellaria paradoxa.
- Boval: the boval vegetation (Loudetiopsis kerstingii - Polycarpaea tenuifolia
community) comprises all plant communities on flat iron pans with patches of shallow
soil.
- Riverine forest: this is found along most of the rivers in the park. It often forms bands of
generally dense and species-rich forests of up to 38 m in height.
- Flood plain grassland and swamps: this vegetation type comprises four plant
communities of seasonally water-logged valley bottoms and badly-drained depressions
and areas around water-holes which are mainly dominated by grasses and sedges.
- 7 and 8) Communities covering small areas: these are sites with special vegetation
such as old termite mounds or depressions in the sandstone plateau on top of the
Konkori escarpment, which are water-filled during the rainy season. There is also a
scarp forest along the foot of the Konkori escarpment.
Three species which are endemic to Ghana were recorded in Mole, namely Gongronema
obscurum, Raphionacme vignei and Rhinopterys angustifolia.There are 5 plants species
endemic to the region where the PA is located. Croton pseudopulchellus, Indigofera conferta,
Indigofera trichopoda, Jatropha nerifolia, Pleiotaxi newtonii.
The large mammals that are commonly seen in Mole include elephant, kob, waterbuck,
bushbuck, warthog, hartebeest, roan antelope, buffalo, duiker, oribi, baboon, patas monkey and
green (vervet) monkey. There have been three censuses of the large mammals of Mole by aerial
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