Rapid survey of the birds of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Ghana

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Chapter 2 nium schnellii (Aspleniaceae), Cola boxiana (Sterculiaceae), Costus deistelii (Costaceae), Epistemma assianum (Apocynaceae, Asclepioideae), Hymenocoleus multinervis (Rubiaceae), Justicia guineensis (Acanthaceae), Lasianthus repens (Rubiaceae), Medinilla mannii (Melastomataceae), Selaginella blepharophylla (Selaginellaceae), Strephonema pseudocola (Combretaceae) and Vernonia titanophylla (Compositae). For a more extensive description of most species see the 1998 report by W.D. Hawthorne and Hawthorne and Jongkind 2006. White, F. 1979. The Guineo-Congolian Region and its relationships to other phytochoria. Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 49: 11-55. Recommendations In preparing this report it became clear that little is published about the epiphytic flora of Atewa while this flora is without doubt very rich. I am sure more important data could be found on this subject in the abovementioned herbaria. I expect that one month’s work would extend the species list considerably, especially the number of species in the Orchid family which is likely to double several times. On top of this, specialized canopy fieldwork would certainly increase our knowledge, as all data about epiphytes seem to come from plants that have fallen down accidentally. Thus, more systematic collection of data for this group of plants is especially needed. References Hall, J.B. and M.D. Swaine. 1976. Classification and Ecology of Closed-Canopy Forest in Ghana. The Journal of Ecology, Vol. 64, 3: 913-951 Hall, J.B. and M.D. Swaine. 1981. Distribution and ecology of vascular plants in a tropical rain forest. Forest vegetation in Ghana. Geobotany 1. Dr W. Junk Publishers. The Hague. 383 pp. Hawthorne, W.D. 1998. Atewa and associated Upland Evergreen forests. Evaluation of recent data, and recommendations for a forthcoming management plan. Report for the Ministry of Lands and Forestry / biodiversity unit. Hawthorne, W.D. and C.C.H. Jongkind. 2006. Woody plants of western African forests, A guide to the forest trees, shrubs and lianas from Senegal to Ghana. Kew Publishing, UK. 1023 pp. Maley, J. 1991. The African rain forest vegetation and palaeoenvironments during late quaternary. Climatic Change 19: 79-98 Summerhayes, V.S. 1968. Orchidaceae in Flora of West Tropical Africa ed. 2, part 3: 180-276. Crown Agents, London, UK. Talbot, M.R. and T. Johannessen. 1992. A high resolution palaeoclimatic record for the last 27,500 years in tropical West Africa from the carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of lacustrine organic matter. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 110: 23-37. 46 Rapid Assessment Program
Chapter 3 A rapid botanical survey of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Ghana D.E.K.A Siaw and Jonathan Dabo Summary A total of 314 plant species belonging to 71 families were recorded during a rapid biological assessment of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve. An additional 30 leaf specimens were pressed for correct identification. At Atiwiredu, 145 plant species in 43 families were recorded, including three black star species Gilbertiodendron splendidum, Psychotira longituba and P. subglabra. At Asiakwa South, 247 species in 65 families were confirmed including one black star species Ixora tenuis. At Asiakwa North, 189 species in 53 families were recorded. Among these were four black star species including two recorded only from this site and also listed on the IUCN Red List, Neolemonniera clitandrifolia (EN) and Sapium aubrevillei (VU). Introduction The Upper Guinea Forest, which includes the forests of Ghana, ranks among the 34 most important biodiversity Hotspots worldwide (Bakarr et al. 2004). This region is highly threatened by exploitation, agriculture and an increasing human population (Bakarr et al. 2001) and remaining fragments of original forest are generally found in remote, inaccessible areas where forest reserves were established a long time ago (Oates 1999). The Atewa Range is situated in the Moist Semi-Deciduous forest zone with hill vegetation classified by Hall and Swaine (1976) as Upland Evergreen (UE) Forest type. The Upland Evergreen forest in Ghana is known to be botanically very unique in terms of floral richness and diversity. Hall and Swaine (1981) compiled longer botanical species lists in Upland Evergreen forests than in surrounding lowland Moist Semi-Deciduous forests (MSSD). They also noted that Atewa represents an extreme type of provenance for endemic and highly distinct species (e.g. Aframomum atewae, Medinilla enti, Anthocleista obanensis, Piper capensis, Cyathea manii and Rubus pinnatus var. afrotropicus). The Atewa Range Forest Reserve (hereafter referred to as ‘Atewa’) is known to contain some plant species not found elsewhere in Ghana (e.g. Piper capensis (Hawthorne and Abu-Juam, 1995)). The area of Atewa, designated as such in 1925, is 232 km 2 . Seventy-five percent of the slopes within the range are at an angle greater than 15 degrees. Atewa, one of 214 forest reserves in Ghana, is the 43 rd Forest Management Unit (FMU 43) and overall has a forest condition score of 3 indicating that it is considered a slightly degraded, ecologically tolerable forest mosaic with healthy and abundant regeneration of timber trees and other forest plants. Animals that like closed forest tend to thrive in this type of mosaic (Hawthorne and Abu- Juam 1993). Records show that several botanical surveys (16) of Atewa have been conducted since 1971. In 1986, one survey inventoried trees of the DBH greater than 5 cm. Hawthorne and Abu-Juam (1995) reported 656 species of vascular plants at Atewa. These comprised 323 tree species, 83 shrub species, 155 liane and climber species, 68 herbaceous species, 22 epiphytes and 5 grasses. At least five black star species (species of the highest conservation priority in Ghana) and 33 Gold star species have been recorded in Atewa. The black star species include: Sapium aubrevillei, Psychotria subglabra, Neolemonniera clitandrifolia, Lecaniodiscus punctatus and Ixora tenuis. A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Eastern Ghana 47
Page 1 and 2: Rapid Assessment Program A Rapid Bi
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Page 5 and 6: Table of Contents Participants and
Page 7 and 8: Participants and Authors Kofi Abban
Page 9 and 10: Organizational Profiles Conservatio
Page 11 and 12: Acknowledgements The success of thi
Page 13 and 14: Report at a Glance exclusively of f
Page 15 and 16: Executive Summary Introduction Acro
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Page 19 and 20: Executive Summary ters, including A
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Page 27 and 28: Executive Summary dining facilities
Page 29 and 30: Executive Summary 1) Maintain Corri
Page 31 and 32: Executive Summary Ricketts, T. H.,
Page 33 and 34: Map A Rapid Biological Assessment o
Page 35 and 36: Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis)
Page 37 and 38: Chapter 1 An ecological, socio-econ
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Page 53 and 54: Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonat
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Page 65 and 66: Chapter 7 The katydids of the Atewa
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A rapid survey of small mammals fro
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Chapter 12 A rapid survey of large
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A rapid survey of large mammals fro
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Chapter 13 A rapid survey of primat
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A rapid survey of primates from the
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Gazetteer This RAP survey was condu
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List of Vascular Plants known from
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List of plant species recorded duri
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Appendix 3 Checklist of Odonata rec
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Checklist of Odonata recorded from
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Checklist of Odonata recorded from
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Appendix 4 Checklist of butterflies
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Checklist of butterflies from the A
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Species Checklist and abundance of
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Appendix 5 Ant species collected fr
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Appendix 6 List of bird species rec
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List of bird species recorded in th
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List of bird species recorded in th
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Appendix 8 Shrews and rodents colle
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Appendix 10 Atewa Range Forest Rese
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Appendix 11 Participants in the Con
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Appendix 12 IUCN Red-listed amphibi
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IUCN Red-listed amphibian, bird and
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Central America Africa & Madagascar
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A Rapid Biological Assessment of th
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Rapid survey of the birds of the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Ghana

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