Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests
Satellite imagery of the Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests. Mount Cameroon is the peak in the center of the picture; Bioko is visible in the lower left.
Location map of the Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests
Ecology
Realm	Afrotropical
Biome	tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Borders	Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests
Geography
Area	1,141 km2 (441 sq mi)
Countries	Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea
Conservation
Conservation status	Critical/endangered
Global 200	yes
Protected	736 km² (64%)

The Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests is a special natural area in central Africa. It's a type of tropical moist forest found on mountains. This ecoregion covers the higher parts of Mount Cameroon in Cameroon and the mountains on Bioko island in Equatorial Guinea.

Where are the Mount Cameroon and Bioko Forests?

This ecoregion is found on the upper slopes of two large volcanic mountains. One is Mount Cameroon, located near the coast in Cameroon. The other is Bioko, a volcanic island southwest of Cameroon in Equatorial Guinea.

These mountain forests start at about 500 meters (1,640 feet) high on Mount Cameroon. On Bioko island, they are found above 1,500 meters (4,920 feet) on three main peaks:

• Pico Basilé (3,011 meters or 9,879 feet high)
• Gran Caldera de Luba (2,261 meters or 7,418 feet high)
• Pico Biao (2,009 meters or 6,591 feet high)

Lower down, these mountain forests are surrounded by another ecoregion called the Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests.

Both Bioko island and Mount Cameroon are part of the Cameroon Volcanic Line. This is a chain of volcanoes that stretches from the Cameroon Highlands into the Atlantic Ocean. Other islands like São Tomé, Príncipe, and Annobón are also part of this volcanic line. Mount Cameroon is over 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) tall, making it the highest peak in western Africa. It is still an active volcano!

Climate: Wet and Wild Weather

The southwestern slopes of these mountains get a lot of rain all year round. This wet climate helps the forests grow thick and green.

Flora: Amazing Plants of the Mountains

The mountain forests of Mount Cameroon and Bioko are home to special plants. These plants are part of what is called the Afromontane flora, which means they are found on Africa's high mountains.

The main types of plant areas here are:

• Mountain forests
• Mountain grasslands
• Heathlands (areas with small shrubs)

At least 42 plant species are found only on Mount Cameroon. Another 50 plant species are found almost nowhere else. This makes the area very important for plant life.

Fauna: Animals of the Forests

The Mount Cameroon and Bioko forests are full of interesting animals.

Birds

Over 370 different kinds of birds have been seen on Mount Cameroon. Some of these birds are found only in this area, making them very special.

Mammals

There aren't as many different types of large mammals here, and most of the bigger ones have disappeared. However, some unique mammals still live here. One example is the Cameroon soft-furred mouse (Praomys morio), which is found only in this region.

Reptiles and Amphibians

This ecoregion has a greater variety of reptiles and amphibians. This includes the unique toad Werneria preussi, which is also found only here.

Protecting These Special Forests

The forests of Mount Cameroon are facing threats, especially at lower elevations. People are clearing land for farming and cutting down trees for wood. This causes the forests to shrink.

Protected Areas

A study in 2017 showed that about 736 square kilometers (284 square miles) of this ecoregion are protected. This means about 64% of the area is safe. However, only 5% of the unprotected land still has forests.

Important protected areas include:

• Mount Cameroon National Park on Mount Cameroon
• Pico Basilé National Park on Bioko
• Luba Crater Scientific Reserve on Bioko

These parks and reserves help protect the unique plants and animals that live in these special mountain forests.

See also

In Spanish: Selva montana de Bioko y el monte Camerún para niños

• Lower Guinean forests