Cross–Sanaga–Bioko coastal forests facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cross–Sanaga–Bioko coastal forests |
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Korup National Park in Cameroon
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Map of the Cross–Sanaga–Bioko coastal forests
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| Ecology | |
| Realm | Afrotropical |
| Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
| Borders |
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| Geography | |
| Area | 51,661 km2 (19,946 sq mi) |
| Countries | Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria |
| Coordinates | 5°48′N 8°48′E / 5.8°N 8.8°E |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | critical |
| Protected | 13,197 km² (26%) |
The Cross–Sanaga–Bioko coastal forests are a special kind of forest found in west-central Africa. This area is called an ecoregion. It's a very green and wet place, full of amazing plants and many different kinds of animals.
Contents
Where These Forests Are Found
These forests are located in parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, and on the island of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea. They cover a huge area, about 52,200 square kilometers (20,150 square miles).
Forest Boundaries
The forests stretch from the Cross River in Nigeria to the Sanaga River in Cameroon. They go inland about 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the Atlantic coast. In Nigeria, most of this forest is in Cross River State.
Nearby Ecoregions
Higher up, the mountains of Mount Cameroon and Bioko island have their own special forests. These are called the Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests. Other nearby forest areas include the Cameroonian Highlands forests and the Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests.
Climate of the Region
The weather here is very wet. It rains a lot all year round. Many rivers flow through these forests, including the Cross River and the Sanaga River.
Amazing Plants of the Forest
This area is home to over 3,000 types of plants that grow nowhere else in the world! That's half of all the unique plants found in West Africa. For example, nearly 2,000 of these special plants are found just in Korup National Park in Cameroon.
Incredible Animals of the Forest
The Cross–Sanaga–Bioko coastal forests are bursting with wildlife. You can find large forest elephants here. There are also many types of primates, which are like monkeys and apes.
Primates of the Forest
Some of the special primates include Cross River gorillas and chimpanzees. You can often see them in Cross River National Park in Nigeria. The Preuss's red colobus monkey is found only in this ecoregion. Other rare primates include the red-eared guenon, crowned guenon, drills, and northern needle-clawed bushbaby.
Other Forest Creatures
These forests also have a wide variety of amphibians, like frogs, and reptiles, like snakes and lizards. The huge goliath frog lives here. The forests are also famous for their many beautiful butterflies, such as the Charaxes superbus and Charaxes acraeoides.
Protecting the Forests
These forests are very important, but they face some challenges. Sometimes, animals are hunted for their meat, which is called bushmeat. In 2006, it was estimated that many mammals, reptiles, and birds were hunted each year.
Conservation Efforts
To protect these amazing forests and their animals, about 26% of the ecoregion is now part of protected areas. One of the biggest protected areas is Korup National Park in Cameroon. These parks help keep the animals and plants safe.
Visiting the Region
If you want to explore these forests, Korup National Park in Cameroon is a good place to start. It's one of the easiest parks to visit. In Nigeria, you can go to Calabar, the capital of Cross River State. From Calabar, you can visit a special sanctuary for drill monkeys. You can also reach the Cross River National Park from Calabar.
Images for kids
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Falling Waters in Korup National Park
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Korup National Park
See also
In Spanish: Selva costera del Cross-Sanaga y Bioko para niños
