The mountain cloud forest in Kedjom-Keku northwestern Cameroon is under a lot of pressure from local farmers, hunters and shepherds due to its fertile soil and good living conditions, which makes it one of the most rapidly disappearing biotopes in the world.
It is necessary to prevent further deforestation as it is an important source of drinking water in the area, as well as the home of hundreds of endemic species, including the Tauraco bannermani, a beautiful bird.
OIPA International in collaboration with the Kedjom -Keku CASUD are cooperating to safeguard the Kedjom-Keku Forest and his animals.
The forest is a biotope that our planet can simply not do without. In 2017, the project aims to reforest over 50 hectares of forest.
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Tauraco bannermani is mainly restricted to the Bamenda Highlands in western Cameroon. It is only likely to survive if the Kilum-Ijim forest, the largest remaining montane forest area in the Bamenda Highlands, is preserved. Research in 1994-1995 found the species in several remaining forest remnants in the Bamenda Highlands and seemingly able to survive in very small forest fragments (<1 km2). In 2003-2009 it was regularly seen/heard in Mendongbuo (Big Babanki) and adjacent montane areas, recorded at 9 out of 23 forest counting points. The Tauraco bird is 43 cm long. It is a large, green bird, dark green to paler green on the underparts with diagnostic (within its range) orange crest. In flight, shows bright crimson wing-patches. Juvenile a duller version of adult. Voice Typical kow kow kow of green turacos but higher-pitched and more rapid delivery. Song readily distinguished from Green Turaco T. Hints Very secretive and difficult to see but has loud, distinctive call which can be heard for up to 1 km in hilly areas. Singing most frequent during the breeding season. Forest of Bamenda Highlands also host one of the highest biodiversity of reptiles on our planet as the diversity of plants. One of the most endangered is Alchemilla fisher, or the massive tree Newtonia camerunensis. There are also many medicinal plants. One of the most highly demanded is Prunus africana. The bark of this tree is used for curing benign prostatic hyperplasia. It is one of the trees being heavily and illegally logged in an unsustainable way. All of these risk extinction with the growing rate of hunting and forest exploitation. Support OIPA conservation project and save the planet. |
READ MORE ABOUT THE FOREST CONSERVATION PROJECT: https://www.oipa.org/international/project-forest_oipa-cameroon/
