Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests
Encyclopedia
The Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest
ecoregion
of central Africa
, covering hills, plains, and mountains of the Atlantic
coast of Cameroon
, Equatorial Guinea
, Gabon
, Republic of the Congo
, Angola
, and Democratic Republic of the Congo
.
This is rich forest home to large mammals such as Western Gorilla
, chimpanzees, forest elephants and African buffalo
, as well as many small mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. As well as chimpanzees and gorillas other primates include black colobus monkeys and mandrill
s.
coast from low hills in the north to mountains further south and east. The forests cover Cameroon's southwest corner, mainland Equatorial Guinea (Río Muni
) and the coastal plains of Gabon
. A narrow strip extends southeast through Republic of the Congo and the eastern portion the Cabinda
enclave of Angola to just north of the Congo River
in Bas-Congo
province of Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests form the southernmost part of the Lower Guinean forests
complex, a region of coastal moist broadleaf forests that extend north and west into southwestern Cameroon and southern Nigeria. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the east, and pockets of the Central African mangroves
can be found along the brackish river mouths and estuaries along the coast. The region extends south from the Sanaga River
in Cameroon down to just north of the River Congo, with a number of other large rivers running through. To the east, the coastal forests transition to the Northwestern Congolian lowland forests, part of the vast Congolian forests
complex that covers the Congo Basin
. The Western Congolian forest-savanna mosaic bounds the Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests to the southeast.
This is a tropical ecoregion receiving high rainfall throughout the year.
ecoregion the area holds about 50% of the endemic plant life of tropical West Africa. Particularly important areas for plant life include the Monts de Cristal
in Gabon and the Mayombe area on the borders of the Republic of the Congo, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The area contains a number of endemic forest mammals including sun-tailed monkey
, Long-footed Shrew
, Lesser Angolan Epauletted Fruit Bat
, and African Smoky Mouse
as well as the forest elephant and the gorillas, chimpanzees and other primates mentioned above. The forests are also rich in bird life. Endemic reptiles include the Apouh Night Frog (Astylosternus schioetzi
), Perret's Snout-burrower
, Gabon Dwarf Clawed Frog (Hymenochirus feae
), Ogowe River Frog (Phrynobatrachus ogoensis
), and Andre's Clawed Frog
.
. Logging is a continuing threat in Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of Congo and particularly in Equatorial Guinea. However extensive areas of forest remain and the fauna is still especially rich in the southern parts of Equatorial Guinea and in Gabon, which has designated large areas as national parkland, including Loango National Park
in this ecoregion.
and the Campo Ma'an National Park
. All of mainland Equatorial Guinea (Río Muni
is in this region including the port of Bata
. In Gabon, as well as logging camps, the forests are inhabited by small groups of agricultural and fishing people including traditional forest dwellers such as the Bakola and Bagyeli. Gabonese towns among the coastal forests include Lambaréné
, home of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital
, the logging base of Ndjolé
, Fougamou
base for visiting the Waka National Park
and Gamba, oil hub but also base for visiting Loango National Park.
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , also known as tropical moist forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome....
ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
of central Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, covering hills, plains, and mountains of the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast of Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
, Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
, Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
, Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
.
This is rich forest home to large mammals such as Western Gorilla
Western Gorilla
The western gorilla is a great ape and the most populous species of the genus Gorilla.-Taxonomy:Nearly all of the individuals of this taxon belong to the western lowland gorilla subspecies whose population is approximately 95,000 individuals...
, chimpanzees, forest elephants and African buffalo
African Buffalo
The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear...
, as well as many small mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. As well as chimpanzees and gorillas other primates include black colobus monkeys and mandrill
Mandrill
The mandrill is a primate of the Old World monkey family, closely related to the baboons and even more closely to the drill. Both the mandrill and the drill were once classified as baboons in genus Papio, but recent research has determined they should be separated into their own genus, Mandrillus...
s.
Location
The Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests cover an area of 189700 square kilometres (73,243.6 sq mi), extending along the AtlanticAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast from low hills in the north to mountains further south and east. The forests cover Cameroon's southwest corner, mainland Equatorial Guinea (Río Muni
Río Muni
Río Muni is the Continental Region of Equatorial Guinea, and comprises the mainland geographical region, covering 26,017 km².-History:Río Muni was ceded by Portugal to Spain in 1778 in the Treaty of El Pardo...
) and the coastal plains of Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
. A narrow strip extends southeast through Republic of the Congo and the eastern portion the Cabinda
Cabinda (city)
Cabinda or Tchiowa, as it is called by the Cabindans, is a city that is located in the Cabinda Province, an exclave of Angola. Angolan sovereignty over Cabinda is disputed by the Republic of Cabinda...
enclave of Angola to just north of the Congo River
Congo River
The Congo River is a river in Africa, and is the deepest river in the world, with measured depths in excess of . It is the second largest river in the world by volume of water discharged, though it has only one-fifth the volume of the world's largest river, the Amazon...
in Bas-Congo
Bas-Congo
Bas-Congo is one of the eleven provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the only province with a coastline and it borders Bandundu province to the east and Kinshasa to the northeast...
province of Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests form the southernmost part of the Lower Guinean forests
Lower Guinean forests
The Lower Guinean forests is region of coastal tropical moist broadleaf forest extending along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea from eastern Benin through Nigeria and Cameroon....
complex, a region of coastal moist broadleaf forests that extend north and west into southwestern Cameroon and southern Nigeria. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the east, and pockets of the Central African mangroves
Central African mangroves
The Central African mangroves ecoregion consists of the largest area of mangrove swamp in Africa, located on the coasts of West Africa, mainly in Nigeria.-Location and description:...
can be found along the brackish river mouths and estuaries along the coast. The region extends south from the Sanaga River
Sanaga River
The Sanaga River is a river of South Province, Cameroon, Centre Province, Cameroon, and West Province, Cameroon. Its length is 890 kilometers.The Sanaga River forms a boundary between two tropical moist forest ecoregions...
in Cameroon down to just north of the River Congo, with a number of other large rivers running through. To the east, the coastal forests transition to the Northwestern Congolian lowland forests, part of the vast Congolian forests
Congolian forests
The Congolian forests are a broad belt of lowland tropical moist broadleaf forest which extends across the basin of the Congo River and its tributaries in Central Africa...
complex that covers the Congo Basin
Congo Basin
The Congo Basin is the sedimentary basin that is the drainage of the Congo River of west equatorial Africa. The basin begins in the highlands of the East African Rift system with input from the Chambeshi River, the Uele and Ubangi Rivers in the upper reaches and the Lualaba River draining wetlands...
. The Western Congolian forest-savanna mosaic bounds the Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests to the southeast.
This is a tropical ecoregion receiving high rainfall throughout the year.
Flora and fauna
Along with the neighbouring Cross-Sanaga-Bioko Coastal ForestsCross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests
The Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of west-central Africa. This is lush forest rich in flora and birdlife.-Location and description:...
ecoregion the area holds about 50% of the endemic plant life of tropical West Africa. Particularly important areas for plant life include the Monts de Cristal
Crystal Mountains National Park
Crystal Mountains National Park is a national park in northwestern Gabon. It is situated in the Crystal Mountains, between Equatorial Guinea and the Ogooué River.- External links :* *...
in Gabon and the Mayombe area on the borders of the Republic of the Congo, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The area contains a number of endemic forest mammals including sun-tailed monkey
Sun-tailed Monkey
The sun-tailed monkey , also known as the sun-tailed guenon, is a primate that lives semi-terrestrially in one hilly area of moist evergreen forest in Gabon....
, Long-footed Shrew
Long-footed Shrew
The Long-footed Shrew is a species of mammal in the Soricidae family. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:*...
, Lesser Angolan Epauletted Fruit Bat
Lesser Angolan Epauletted Fruit Bat
The Lesser Angolan Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Angola and Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, and moist savanna. It is threatened...
, and African Smoky Mouse
African Smoky Mouse
The African Smoky Mouse or Smokey Heimyscus is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus Heimyscus....
as well as the forest elephant and the gorillas, chimpanzees and other primates mentioned above. The forests are also rich in bird life. Endemic reptiles include the Apouh Night Frog (Astylosternus schioetzi
Astylosternus schioetzi
Astylosternus schioetzi is a species of frog in the Astylosternidae family.It is endemic to Cameroon.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
), Perret's Snout-burrower
Perret's Snout-burrower
The Perret's Snout-burrower is a species of frog in the Hemisotidae family.It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, possibly Angola, and possibly Republic of the Congo....
, Gabon Dwarf Clawed Frog (Hymenochirus feae
Hymenochirus feae
Hymenochirus feae, also known as Gaboon Dwarf Clawed Frog, is a species of frog in the Pipidae family.It is endemic to Gabon.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, intermittent freshwater lakes, and intermittent freshwater marshes.-Source:* Measey, J. &...
), Ogowe River Frog (Phrynobatrachus ogoensis
Phrynobatrachus ogoensis
Phrynobatrachus ogoensis is a species of frog in the Petropedetidae family.It is found in Gabon and Liberia.Its natural habitats are freshwater marshes and intermittent freshwater marches.-Source:...
), and Andre's Clawed Frog
Andre's Clawed Frog
The Andre's Clawed Frog is a species of frog in the Pipidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, possibly Republic of the Congo, possibly Democratic Republic of the Congo, and possibly Equatorial Guinea....
.
Threats and conservation
Many of the animals here, including the primates, are endangered by hunting for meat or as prizes while elephants are poached for meat and for the ivory tradeIvory trade
The ivory trade is the commercial, often illegal trade in the ivory tusks of the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, mammoth, and most commonly, Asian and African elephants....
. Logging is a continuing threat in Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of Congo and particularly in Equatorial Guinea. However extensive areas of forest remain and the fauna is still especially rich in the southern parts of Equatorial Guinea and in Gabon, which has designated large areas as national parkland, including Loango National Park
Loango National Park
Loango National Park is a national park in western Gabon. It protects diverse coastal habitat, including part of the 220 km² Iguéla Lagoon, the only significant example of a typical western African lagoon system that is protected within a national park....
in this ecoregion.
Urban areas and settlements
This is a thinly populated region. South Region (Cameroon) is heavily forested and contains the coastal resort of KribiKribi
-Location:The coastal town of Kribi lies on the Gulf of Guinea, in Océan Department, South Province, at the mouth of the Kienké River. This location, lies approximately , by road, south of Douala, the loargest city in Cameroon and the busiest seaport in the country...
and the Campo Ma'an National Park
Campo Ma'an National Park
Campo Ma'an National Park is a 264,064 hectare national park of Cameroon. The combined area for the national park and the buffer zone surrounding the park is approximately 700,000 hectares.-References:...
. All of mainland Equatorial Guinea (Río Muni
Río Muni
Río Muni is the Continental Region of Equatorial Guinea, and comprises the mainland geographical region, covering 26,017 km².-History:Río Muni was ceded by Portugal to Spain in 1778 in the Treaty of El Pardo...
is in this region including the port of Bata
Bata, Equatorial Guinea
Bata is a port city in the Litoral Province of Equatorial Guinea. With a 2005 estimated population of 173,046, it is the largest city in Equatorial Guinea. It lies on the Atlantic Ocean coast of Río Muni....
. In Gabon, as well as logging camps, the forests are inhabited by small groups of agricultural and fishing people including traditional forest dwellers such as the Bakola and Bagyeli. Gabonese towns among the coastal forests include Lambaréné
Lambaréné
Lambaréné is the capital of the political district Moyen-Ogooué in Gabon. The city counts 24,000 inhabitants and is located 75 kilometres south of the equator....
, home of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital
Albert Schweitzer Hospital
The Medical Research Unit of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital was established in Lambaréné, Gabon, to study major causes of disease burden in the local population...
, the logging base of Ndjolé
Ndjolé
Ndjolé is a town in Gabon, lying north east of Lambaréné on the River Ogooué, the N2 road and the Trans-Gabon Railway. It is known as a base for logging and as a transport hub. Ndjolé is the last city that can be reached by barge traffic traveling up the Ogooué River. Above Ndjolé there are...
, Fougamou
Fougamou
Fougamou is a small town in Ngounié Province in Gabon. It has a population of about 4,100 and is the capital of Tsamba-Magotsi Department. It lies along the west bank of the Ngounié River on the N1 road between Lambaréné and Mouila....
base for visiting the Waka National Park
Waka National Park
Waka National Park is a national park in central Gabon. Waka protects over 1,000 km² of rain forest in the Chaillu Massif.- External links :* *...
and Gamba, oil hub but also base for visiting Loango National Park.