Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve - Essay Example

This site is also famous for its bio diversity. As per the findings of UNESCO (World Heritage Nomination, 1992), a number of more than 500 new species of fauna have been discovered in Mount Nimba Reserve and there are more than 200 endemic species. The species diversity found here is rich because of the variety of eco tones created by the presence of grasslands which are tied with the forest. The mammals of Mount Nimba include bushbuck, black duiker, bay duiker, forest buffalo, bush pig, white-bellied pangolin, pygmy hippopotamus, leopard, lion, golden cat, two-spotted palm civet, African civet, forest genet, Johnston's genet, cane rat, African clawless otter, lesser otter shrew and chimpanzees.

Apart from the animals, there are a number of rare and endemic bird species as well here in. The forests also contain numerous reptile and amphibian species including West African toad and much variety of frogs (World Heritage Nomination, 1992). This biodiversity includes flora as well. When it comes to the biological interrelationship among the life forms, we should consider the food chain. The bottom tier of the food chain is constituted by the flora including grasses, trees and shrubs. The second tier of the food chain consists of all the animals such as deer and buffaloes that assume plants and grass for their food.

Finally, the predators include leopards and lions. The existence of one section is impossible in the absence of another section. Thus, all sections are equally important as they depend on each other for food and existence. Though Mount Nimba was not much affected by human intrusions, it had a severe threat in 1992 by an international consortium as it came forward proposing an iron ore mining site in this area. In addition to this, a large number of refugees from Liberia invaded this park for their inhabitation.

As reported in United Nations Environment Programme (2008), The World Heritage Committee expressed its concern over the issue and placed Mount Nimba among the list of world heritages in danger. In response to the Heritage Committee's concern about the impacts of mining and the refugees to the Mount Nimba, the Guinean Ministry for Energy and Environment in 1995 set up a Management Centre that is answerable to environmental and legal questions, for monitoring the water quality of the region, for socio-economic studies and integrated rural development.

The strict prohibition of tourism prevents further human intrusion in the site (United Nations Environment Programme, 2008). On realizing the importance of keeping and preserving the heritage and sanctity of Mount Nimba, on 28 January 1989 a convention was signed by UNDP, UNESCO and the Guinean government to initiate a two-year project to study the impact of traditional agricultural methods and iron ore extraction etc, that disturbed the environmentalists for a while, on the natural values of the site.

The project proposed included scientific studies to ascertain complete knowledge of the reserve's extremely rich and immense ecosystems, and technical measures for monitoring and protecting the biodiversity in it. Being listed in the world heritages list by UNESCO, Mount Nimba is well protected. The prohibition of tourism in this area was as well in the belief that it would help the site to prosper without any hold back (World Heritage Nomination, 1992). There are a lot of things that a man can do to help