SAVING ATEWA RANGE FOREST IN GHANA The Sights, Assets, Threats and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
SAVING ATEWA RANGE FOREST IN GHANA The Sights, Assets, Threats and Opportunities of The Sights, Assets, Threats and Opportunities of The Sights, Assets, Threats and Opportunities of The Sights, Assets, Threats and Opportunities of Atewa Range
Presentation By: Seth Appiah-Kubi A Rocha Ghana
A Jewel amongst Ghana's rich forest heritage Located about
Atewa is only major Upland Evergreen Forest in Ghana A mountain forest that absorbs water from clouds and induces rainfall; the mountain comprises the headwaters of three primary catchment areas, the Densu, Ayensu and Brim/Pra River Basins.
Atewa dotted border-endemic Sylvan katydid-rare Emperor scorpion-rare Emerald damselfly-rare Waterfall-headwaters Tree fern
RAP Scientific RAP Scientific RAP Scientific RAP Scientific Discoveries Discoveries Discoveries Discoveries
At least 500 species new to science discovered, of which over 150 have been described and named
snake New goby fish
Recognized as single most important site in Ghana for butterflies in 2006
Atewa has upland plants rarely seen in West Africa, like treefern (Cyathea manniana) and bramble (Rubus pinnatus)
765 vascular plants
7 Black Star ( Of Highest global Conservation Priority) 33 Gold Star (of high global conservation priority) 12 scarlet marked (most threatened by exploitation) 16 red marked (signifi)
Species recorded Species new to science New for Ghana Species of conservation concern Endemic to Upper Guinea Plants
314 6 (Black Star)
Dragonflies
72 1 8 1
Butterflies
143 16
Grasshopper s
61 8 36
Fishes
19 1
Amphibians
32 9 16
Birds
155 1 6 11
Small mammals
15 2 2 3
Large mammals
22 10
Primates
6 2 1
Togo Slippery Frog (Conraua derooi) red-listed as Critically Endangered; in Volta and Togo under pressure from habitat destruction and human consumption
Atewa’s streams holds world’s last viable populations
Atewa as an important water tower is the source
5 Million Ghanaians upstream and downstream
The reliable flow of clean water off Atewa depends on capacity of its soil, swamps and forest to store and filter rainwater, and to buffer for spates and droughts.
1926 ― Designated as National Forest Reserve; critically important in protecting watersheds upon which many Ghanaians depend
Atewa feeds the Densu, which also feeds the Weija… and many other small streams and river bodies within the Densu River Basin. No Atewa, No Densu, No Weija, Water Crisis for both domestic and industrial use
A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Atewa Range in 2006 indicated that “In Ghana there is no
like Atewa”
Several threats currently depleting the irreplaceable assets of Atewa Range Forest Reserve in the process comprising the water provisioning services of Atewa
Removal of vegetation and mineral deposits from Atewa will compromise the water storage capacity, jeopardizing the reliable discharge of freshwater into the region’s rivers, an essential resource for millions of Ghanaians.
Opportunities
Regulation Services
Services
Bryophytes survey Human impact assessment TEEB study
Snail farming Grasscutter farming Mushroom farming
For more information:
For further contacts and collaborations Please contact us at:
Seth.appiah-kubi@arocha.org ghana@arocha.org Tel: 0302-222417