Bia National Park
| Bia National Park | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Location | Western Region of Ghana |
| Nearest city | Sekondi-Takoradi |
| Coordinates | 6°5′N 3°6′W / 6.083°N 3.100°W |
| Area | 563 km² |
| Established | 1974 |
Bia National Park is a national park in the Bia district in the Western Region of Ghana. It is also a biosphere reserve with a 563 square kilometer resource reserve. It has some of Ghana's last remnants of relatively untouched forest complete with its full diversity of wildlife. Some of the tallest trees left in West Africa are found in this national park.[1][2] It constitutes a twin conservation area called the Bia National Park and the Bia Resource Reserve.[3][4]
Geography
Bia National Park is located near the Ivorian border, the Bia River, and its tributaries flow into the Ivorian drainage area. It is found in the transitional zone between moist-evergreen and moist semi-deciduous forest types.[5] Access to the park from Kumasi is through Bibiani, Sefwi Wiawso to Sefwi Asempanaye or Goaso through Sankore to Sefwi Asempanaye. From Sunyani, it can be reached through Berekum, Wanfi, Adabokrom and Debiso. From Côte d'Ivoire the park can be reached through Osei Kojokrom and Debiso.[3]
History
Bia was created in 1935 and named after the Bia River which drains the area.[6] It became an official national park in 1974.[7] Intensive farming destroyed much of the original vegetation in the park.[8] However, since 1975, no human activities like farming or logging have taken place.[9] In 1985 the park was named a biosphere reserve and a UNESCO world heritage site.[9]
Wildlife
There are about 62 species of mammals (including 10 primate species which are the Black-and-White colobus, the olive colobus, red colobus monkeys and chimpanzees) known to live in the park, and over 189 bird species, including the endangered white-breasted guinea fowl, Black-collared lovebird, Cassin’s hawk Eagle, Honeyguide greenbul, Black-headed oriole, Brown and Puvel’s illadopsis, Finch’s Flycatcher-Thrush, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Western nicator, Spotted greenbul, Grey-headed bristlebill, Fire-bellied woodpecker and Melancholy woodpecker).[10] The park is also the only known home of the newly discovered species of lizard, Agama africana.[11] Ghana's major protected forest antelope communities also live in the park.[12] The forest elephant and the bongo which is claimed to be highly threatened can be found there.[3]
Activities
Walking trails and roads lead to the reserve of the forest, where wild animals and birds can be spotted. Ecological studies and snail picking are also undertaken in the reserve.[3][13]
A cultural site called Apaso, is located in the park closer to two small pools and claimed to be a sacred place for visitors to sacrifice and give gifts to the gods.[7]
Bibliography
- Notes
- ^ "Bia National Park". tourism.thinkghana.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ "Wildlife and Nature Reserves". ghanaexpeditions.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ a b c d "The Bia National Park and Bia Resource Reserve, Ghana". www.fcghana.org. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ "Bia Biosphere Reserve, Ghana". UNESCO. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ "Bia National Park & Resource Reserve/Biosphere Reserve". fcghana.com. The Forestry Commission of Ghana. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ "National Parks in Ghana". chm-cbd.net. Ghanaian Clearing-House Mechanism. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ a b December 30, Maxwell; Pm, 2019 at 12:56 (4 May 2015). "Bia National Park Ghana". Africa Tour Operators. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Ghana National Game & Wildlife Parks". ghanaembassy.or.jp. The Ghana Embassy in Japan. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ^ a b Boyle & Boontawee 1995, p. 247
- ^ "Bia National Park". Adventure Birding Tours. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ "About Ghana". travelcareholdings.com. TravelCare Holdings. Archived from the original on 2 March 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ East 1990, p. 70
- ^ "Bia | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- References
- Boyle, Timothy James Butler; Boontawee, B. (1995). Measuring and monitoring biodiversity in tropical and temperate forests: proceedings of a IUFRO symposium held at Chiang Mai, Thailand, August 27th — September 2nd, 1994 (1995 ed.). CIFOR. ISBN 979-8764-01-3. - Total pages: 395
- East, Rod;(IUCN/SSC Specialist Antelope Group) (1990). Antelopes: Global Survey and Regional Action Plans Part 3. West and Central Africa (1990 ed.). IUCN. ISBN 2-8317-0016-7.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Total pages: 171