Cameroon

Dja Faunal Reserve

WHS Score 2.53 Votes 2 Average 3.25

The Dja Faunal Reserve covers one of the largest and best-protected rainforests in Africa noted for its biodiversity.

The reserve is almost completely surrounded by the Dja River, a contributary to the Congo River. Its dense primary forests are the habitat of over 100 mammal species and more than 320 bird species. Especially notable are its primates, such as the western lowland gorilla, chimpanzee, mandrill, and drill. African grey parrot and Grey-necked Picathartes are among the birds that are found here.

Community Perspective: this site has been unreviewed so far, no wonder since it has no road access and only about 100 people visit overall annually.

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Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Dja Faunal Reserve (ID: 407)
Country
Cameroon
Status
Inscribed 1987 Site history
History of Dja Faunal Reserve
WHS Type
Natural
Criteria
  • ix
  • x
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources
News Article
  • May 16, 2010 news.bbc.co.uk — Cameroon panic as elephants escape Dja Faunal Reserve

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Wildlife habitat: Fauna
  • Natural landscape: Forest
Travel Information
One thousand visitors or fewer
One thousand visitors or fewer
“En 2014, l’écotourisme représente un total de 114 touristes dont …
Recent Connections
View all (28) .
Connections of Dja Faunal Reserve
Geography
Trivia
Ecology
Damaged
  • 'Threatened' by Dams
    Mekin Dam

    See www.internationalrivers.org

  • Poaching
    There are reports of large scale commercial hunting of elephants, buffalos and various antelopes. Again the extent of the reserve is such that it is unlikely that hunting could pose a significant threat to wildlife populations. The notable exception is elephant hunting which needs to be brought under control.
World Heritage Process
Human Activity
  • Pygmy Peoples
    "A population of pygmies lives within the reserve, in small sporadic encampments, maintaining an essentially traditional lifestyle." (UNESCO). This link is to a study of 2001 into the lives of the Baka pygmies:

    See www.forestpeoples.org

  • Natural sites with indigenous human population
    "Two small populations of Baka pygmies live within the Reserve in small encampments, maintaining an essentially traditional semi-nomadic lifestyle"

    See www.unep-wcmc.org

  • Coffee
    coffee plantations within the park abandoned in 1946
  • Traditional Hunting
    "A population of pygmies live within the reserve in small sporadic encampments, and are free to hunt within the reserve using traditional methods." (AB)
WHS on Other Lists
Timeline
  • Holocene
    "There is strong evidence that forest cover was reduced during the last Ice Age, lasting from 1.6 million to 10,000 years ago. While forested areas in the Congo River Basin are known to have persisted in some areas called refugia..........About 10,000 years ago, as the last Ice Age ended, glaciers receded and rainfall increased. The changing climate allowed savannas to be reclaimed by trees, and the forest grew to reach its current size."

    See www.wwf-congobasin.org

Visiting conditions
  • No road access
    "La Réserve du Dja ne connaît pas de routes carrossables. L’accès se fait à pied, avec pas mal d’obstacles comme des traversées de points d’eau."

    See www.editions2015.com

  • One thousand visitors or fewer
    “En 2014, l’écotourisme représente un total de 114 touristes dont 7 nationaux, 11 résidents et 96 étrangers” (IUCN Outlook 2020)
WHS Names
18
News
news.bbc.co.uk 05/16/2010
Cameroon panic as elephants escape…
Recent Visitors
Reserved for members.

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