__ENVS 1301 Discussion Forum Unit 2 Solution 9

Which biodiversity hotspot did you choose to write about? (Give the name)

I choose Guinean Forests of West Africa.

Where is it located? (Give the world, region and country)

It is located in the continent of Africa, in the West Africa region. According to Critical Ecosystem
Partnership Fund (CEPF), the location “encompasses all of the lowland forests of political West Africa,
stretching from Guinea and Sierra Leone eastward to the Sanaga River in Cameroon. This includes the
countries of Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria” (CEPF, 2015).

What are two important species (give common and scientific names) that live there?

Two of the important species that live there are:

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(1) “Jentink’s duiker (Cephalophus jentinki)” (CEPF, 2015).

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(2) “Vulnerable zebra duiker (Cephalophus zebra)” (CEPF, 2015).

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Why are they important?

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They are very important because both are part of the rarest antelopes in the world (CEPF, 2015).
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What is one endangered species (give common and scientific name) that lives there? Why is it
endangered?
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According to “São Tomé grosbeak (Neospiza concolor)” is one of the endangered birds in that area, and
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it is endangered because it is located in a very small area and unprotected area in the forest of São
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Tomé (CEPF, 2015).

List three other interesting facts that you have learned about this place.
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(1) The hotspot is renowned for its primate diversity, as it contains 30 species, six of which are endemic
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to the Upper Guinean Forests sub region, and nine to the Lower Guinean Forests sub region. There are
also four endemic primate subspecies on Bioko Island (CEPF, 2015).

(2) Almost one-third of the hotspot’s amphibian species are considered globally threatened
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(3) The third interesting fact is that the location of the biodiversity hotspot runs across several countries
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in the West African region of Africa (CEPF, 2015).

List one thing you feel could be done to help save it.

Since it has been confirmed that one of the major reasons the species are endangered is because people
living in this area depend on them as part of their food, they people could be educated about the
importance of conservation to their environment. Practically, they should be provided with an alternate
source of subsidized meat supply such as raising livestock, and especially rearing “bush meat” in a
controlled environment.

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 Reference

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (2015). Biodiversity-hotspots. Retrieved from

https://www.cepf.net/our-work/biodiversity-hotspots/guinean-forests-west-africa

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