Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, also known as Réserve naturelle intégrale du Mont Nimba in French, is a protected area and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in both Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire. The total area covered is 175.4 square kilometers (43,300 acres). Of this, 125.4 square kilometers (31,000 acres) are in Guinea, and 50 square kilometers (12,000 acres) are in Côte d'Ivoire. The reserve includes parts of the Nimba Range, which is a special area with a wide variety of plants and animals. This region is home to many species found only in this area. Examples include Nimbaphrynoides, a type of toad that gives birth to live young, the Nimba otter shrew, and several kinds of horseshoe bats. The highest point in the reserve is Mount Richard-Molard, which reaches 1,752 meters (5,750 feet). This is the tallest mountain in both Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire.

History

The strict nature reserve was created in 1943 by Order No. 4190 SE/F in Côte d'Ivoire and in 1944 by a decree in Guinea. The part in Guinea was recognized as a biosphere reserve in 1980. In 1981, the Guinean section became a World Heritage Site, and in 1982, the Côte d'Ivoire section also became a World Heritage Site. This was because the area has high biodiversity and a unique mix of tropical habitats. Iron-ore mining began in the most vulnerable mountain area in 1992, and the reserve has been listed as a World Heritage Site in danger since that time. To improve protection, a conservation management centre is being built by the Guinean Parks Foundation. The project was approved by the Guinean Government and CEGENS in 2016.

Geography

The Nimba Range is a narrow mountain ridge that is about 40 kilometers long and runs in a northeast to southwest direction. It is part of the southern edge of the Guinea Highlands. The highest point in the range is Mount Richard-Molard, which reaches 1,752 meters (5,750 feet). Other notable peaks include Grand Rochers at 1,694 meters (5,558 feet), Mont Sempéré at 1,682 meters (5,518 feet), Mont Piérré Richaud at 1,670 meters (5,479 feet), Mont Tô at 1,675 meters (5,495 feet), and Mont LeClerc at 1,577 meters (5,174 feet). All of these peaks are located within the Guinean portion of the reserve. The area has about fifty springs, which are the sources of the Cavally, Cestos, and Sassandra Rivers. The main danger to the region’s special landforms and wildlife is the mining of high-quality iron ore.

Climate

The Nimba Range has a type of climate near the equator in mountainous areas. Temperatures change a lot depending on how high you are, with daytime highs between 24 °C and 33 °C, and nighttime lows sometimes below 10 °C. Some parts of the reserve receive much less rain because the high ridge blocks some rainfall, creating a rain-shadow effect. In general, the southern slopes are more wet than the northern slopes, which are dry because of the Harmattan wind from the Sahara. The Nimba Range and the reserve have many different small climates.

Ecology

Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve is located in the Guinean Forests of West Africa Biodiversity Hotspot. It contains a wide variety of plant and animal life, including more than 2,000 types of vascular plants, 680 vertebrate species, 132 of which are mammals, and over 2,500 invertebrate species. Scientists study the reserve because many species in the area have not yet been discovered. Some animals found only in the reserve include the Nimba viviparous toad, Lamotte's roundleaf bat, and Nimba otter shrew. Other rare and endangered animals in the reserve are the West African lion, pygmy hippopotamus, zebra duiker, and a group of western chimpanzees that use stones as tools. The reserve has been named an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports large numbers of bird species.

The reserve includes several types of land areas, such as the Western Guinean lowland forest, Guinean montane forest, Guinean forest-savanna mosaic, and West Sudanian savanna. The Nimba Range is part of a unique freshwater area with many fish and other water species found only in this region.

The types of plants in the reserve change depending on the height above sea level and the direction the mountain faces.

• The mountain is separated from other forest areas by the lowland West Sudanian savanna and Guinean forest-savannah mosaic. These savanna areas are interrupted by narrow strips of forest and small forested areas.
• The lowland foothills are covered by the Western Guinean Lowland Forest up to 600 meters. This forest has a main layer of tall trees and a layer of even taller trees. In one hectare, there are 40 to 70 tree species, and the area has records of up to 500 different tree species.
• Guinean Montane Forests are found between 600 and 1,200–1,400 meters. At lower elevations, semi-deciduous high forests extend up to 900 meters. These forests have fewer species compared to the lowlands. Short dry forests are found on the eastern side of the mountain. Above 900 meters, where the mountain is often covered in clouds, mossy forests grow. These forests can be divided into three types: Parinari exclesa forests, summit forests, and tree fern forests in valleys where groundwater is available. Above the tree line, there is a transition from Protea bushland to grassland.
• High-altitude grasslands extend from 1,200 to 1,400 meters to the mountain's highest peaks. These areas are home to several species found only in this region, including the Nimba viviparous toad (Nimbaphrynoides occidentalis) and Lamotte's roundleaf bat (Hipposideros lamottei), which has only been found at one mining site. Other plants found only in this area include Asplenium schnellii, Osbeckia porteresii, and Blaeria nimbana.

Tourism

Mount Nimba is located in a remote area where the borders of Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, and Liberia meet, far from the capital cities of these countries. The part of the mountain in Liberia has been heavily damaged due to past heavy mining activities, while the section in Guinea has remained in good ecological condition and has stayed natural.

Trivia

One of four honey buzzards in Kempen-Broek that have GPS trackers traveled through this national park on November 13, 2013.

Gallery

• Edge of the protected area (Gbakore)
• Flat area with grasses and scattered trees near Mount Nimba
• Tropical rainforest in low areas
• Western chimpanzees
• Highland forest with mist
• Highland area with Protea plants and shrubs
• Highland area with grasses
• A visitor flying above the clouds