[en] Landscape Ecological Survey of the Bipindi-Akom II ... - ITTO
[en] Landscape Ecological Survey of the Bipindi-Akom II ... - ITTO
[en] Landscape Ecological Survey of the Bipindi-Akom II ... - ITTO
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2. STUDY AREA<br />
2.1 LOCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
The TCP research area is situated in Southwest Cameroon at approximately 80 km East <strong>of</strong> Kribi,<br />
betwe<strong>en</strong> r47'-3°14' N, 10°24'-10°51' E. The area is delimitated by <strong>the</strong> villages <strong>of</strong> <strong>Bipindi</strong>,<br />
<strong>Akom</strong> <strong>II</strong> and Lolodorf (Fig. 1.1). From an administrative point <strong>of</strong> view <strong>the</strong> TCP research area<br />
is part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> South Province <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Republic <strong>of</strong> Cameroon and is subdivided into <strong>the</strong><br />
Departm<strong>en</strong>ts Ocean and Ntem. The TCP area covers about 1700 km2 The TCP research area is situated in Southwest Cameroon at approximately 80 km East <strong>of</strong> Kribi,<br />
betwe<strong>en</strong> r47'-3 ° 14' N, 10°24'-10°51' E. The area is delimitated by <strong>the</strong> villages <strong>of</strong> <strong>Bipindi</strong>,<br />
<strong>Akom</strong> <strong>II</strong> and Lolodorf (Fig. 1.1). From an administrative point <strong>of</strong> view <strong>the</strong> TCP research area<br />
is part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> South Province <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Republic <strong>of</strong> Cameroon and is subdivided into <strong>the</strong><br />
Departm<strong>en</strong>ts Ocean and Ntem. The TCP area covers about 1700 km which to a large ext<strong>en</strong>t<br />
coincides with a concession <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dutch logging company <strong>of</strong>Wijma-Douala S.A.R.L. (GWZ).<br />
2 which to a large ext<strong>en</strong>t<br />
coincides with a concession <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dutch logging company <strong>of</strong>Wijma-Douala S.A.R.L. (GWZ).<br />
All roads leading to and within <strong>the</strong> TCP area are dirt roads. Two governm<strong>en</strong>tal roads delimit <strong>the</strong><br />
TCP research area, <strong>the</strong> Kribi-<strong>Bipindi</strong>-Lolodorf-Ebolowa road in <strong>the</strong> northwest and <strong>the</strong> Kribi<br />
<strong>Akom</strong> <strong>II</strong>-Ebolowa road in <strong>the</strong> south. Within <strong>the</strong> area three principal roads are pres<strong>en</strong>t, two <strong>of</strong><br />
which having approximately a W-E direction and one a SW-NE direction. In addition many<br />
smaller exploitation roads have be<strong>en</strong> constructed. Accessibility <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se, however, is variable<br />
as maint<strong>en</strong>ance is carried out by <strong>the</strong> logging companies and ceases once <strong>the</strong>ir activities are<br />
transferred to o<strong>the</strong>r regions. Footpaths connecting villages are found throughout <strong>the</strong> area.<br />
Transport by boat over <strong>the</strong> rivers is not possible due to <strong>the</strong> pres<strong>en</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> rapids and waterfalls.<br />
2.2 CLIMATE<br />
The climate <strong>of</strong> Southwest Cameroon is equatorial. Although rainfall occurs throughout <strong>the</strong> year,<br />
two distinct minima and maxima can be distinguished in <strong>the</strong> annual pattern which are associated<br />
with <strong>the</strong> N-S movem<strong>en</strong>ts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Intertropical Converg<strong>en</strong>ce Zone over <strong>the</strong> area. The humid<br />
seasons ext<strong>en</strong>d from September to November and from April to May, whereas <strong>the</strong> drier seasons<br />
ext<strong>en</strong>d from December to March and from June to August. According to <strong>the</strong> classification<br />
system <strong>of</strong>K6pp<strong>en</strong> (1936), <strong>the</strong> climate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area is classified as humid tropical (Aw). Such a<br />
climate has a mean temperature in <strong>the</strong> coldest month above 18°C, an average annual temperature<br />
<strong>of</strong> around 25°C 25 ° C with little variation betwe<strong>en</strong> years, and at least one distinct dry season.<br />
Table 2.1 Summary <strong>of</strong> climatic data for selected stations in Southwest Cameroon (Olivry,<br />
1986)<br />
Climatic data Wea<strong>the</strong>r station<br />
Kribi Lolodorf Ebolowa<br />
Altitude (m asl) as!) 13 440 609<br />
Mean Mean annual annual temperature temperature Cc) 26.4 24.6 24.0<br />
Mean annual relative humidity (%) 73-94 n.a. 68-97<br />
Mean annual vapour pressure (mbar) 29.3 n.a. 24.6<br />
Mean annual rainfall (mm) 2836 (±393) 2096 (±286) 1719 (±195)<br />
Wind speed below 4 m S·I (% <strong>of</strong> time) 98 n.a. n.a.<br />
Main wind direction SW n.a. W<br />
Kribi n= 45 years; Lolodorf n= 25 years; Ebolowa n= 48 years; n.a. = data not available.<br />
A summary <strong>of</strong> climatic data <strong>of</strong> selected stations in <strong>the</strong> region is pres<strong>en</strong>ted in Table 2.1. The long<br />
term annual mean temperature decreases from West to East, corresponding with an increase in<br />
altitude altitude (Olivry, (Olivry, 1986).<br />
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