Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Ornithological information See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. A preliminary list for site totals 152 species, of which half are migrants. Three species of global conservation concern occur, of which Phoenicopterus minor is merely an irregular and uncommon visitor. Sterna balaenarum is a common non-breeding visitor between June and November. Ploceus subpersonatus, also a restricted-range species, breeds in small colonies in the palm Phoenix reclinata. Although relatively few Guinea–Congo Forests biome species occur, they include some which are rare elsewhere, such as Campephaga petiti and Nectarinia fuliginosa. The mangrove shelters some typical specialist species such as Anthreptes gabonicus, Laniarius bicolor, and Apalis flavida. At high tide, waders and terns roost on a sandbank at the mouth of the Moka river. A 1992 survey estimated 34,000–38,000 waders in Corisco Bay, the highest concentration in the country and included species rare in this part of Africa, such as Charadrius mongolus, Charadrius leschenaultii, Charadrius asiaticus and Haematopus ostralegus.

Site description Akanda is situated 30 km north-east of Libreville and consists of two islands barely separated from the mainland by the Mamboumbé and Moka creeks and the Ntsini river, which forms the southern boundary of the site. The site borders Corisco Bay to the north and Mondah Bay to the east. Vegetation includes some dry forests on higher ground, dominated by Aucoumea klaineana, Klainedoxa gabonensis, Sacoglottis gabonensis, Librevillea klainei, Hannoa klaineana, Dacryodes buettneri and Pycnanthus angolensis. Lower down, this merges into coastal forest, typified by smaller trees such as Syzygium guineense, Cassipourea sp., Chrysobalanus icaco, and Manilkara lacera. Some flat, sandy areas are highly saline and lack vegetation. Large areas of Rhizophora and Avicennia mangroves line the creeks and the coast. At low tide vast areas of mudflat are exposed in Corisco and Mondah Bays, the rivers being confined to narrow channels.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Habitats

Land use

Other biodiversity The primate Cercocebus torquatus (LR/nt) has been recorded.

Management considerations The site has been proposed as a Nature Reserve. The creeks and the bays are important for fishing, and a permanent camp of immigrant Nigerian fisherman has been established within the site. There is some small-scale cutting of mangroves for smoking fish. Akanda should be considered for designation as a Ramsar Site.

References Schepers and Marteijn (1993), Wilks (1990).

Contribute  Please click here to help BirdLife conserve the world's birds - your data for this IBA and others are vital for helping protect the environment.

Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Akanda. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife