KEY FACTS PARC NATIONAL DE MWAGNA

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1 KEY FACTS PARC NATIONAL DE MWAGNA DATE CREATED: 2002 AREA: 1160 km 2 HIGHEST POINT: 622 m HABITATS: Marantaceae forest, Bai PROVINCE: Ogooué-Ivindo PRINCIPAL RIVERS: Lodié, Louayé NEAREST TOWNS: Malouma, Bakwaka, Makokou STATUS: Part of priority Transboundary Area identified by WWF, ECOFAC and WCS

2 PHASE THREE DEVELOPMENT mwagna NATIONAL PARK EARTH S SECOND LARGEST RAINFOREST At the heart of Africa s last great primeval land, Mwagna National Park forms a significant part of a tri-national forest that is the second biggest piece of rainforest in the world. Only Brazil has a larger rainforest block. Mwagna s rainforest may be a source of global biodiversity, and great pride to Gabon, but the Park and its surrounding vast standing forest also are critical for protecting the planet from faster global warming. Millions of great trees and their verdant labyrinth of scrambling vines and epiphytes lock up tons of carbon (10,000-25,000 tons/km2), keeping it from entering the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. Slowing forest cutting here is an advantage to our overheating planet. Hence Gabon s great interior forests around Mwagna, Minkebe, Ivindo, and Lopé need more serious consideration in global financing strategies, due to the Congo Basin s beneficial mitigating potential for the planet. No small nation has the financial capacity to alone carry the costs of maintaining Earth s forests. Because of the difficulty accessing deep interior land, Mwagna may be one of Gabon s last parks to be developed for widespread tourism. Although, as a last frontier with mythical rivers and unexplored grand forest, Mwagna has particular existing value for adventure tourism today. MWAGNA LEFT: Deep in the interior of Gabon, the rich green of Mwagna s forest extends for miles in every direction. This park has great appeal to those seeking wilderness adventure in unknown lands. MWAGNA NATIONAL PARK 232

3 Flocks of African Gray Parrots MAKOKOU is 70 km to the west. WWF-supported and Parcs Gabon patrols must be on constant guard to protect the Park from hunters, some coming across the border from Congo. roost in riverside raffias near the Liboumba River. Thousands of these birds visit Mwagna. Mwagna and the surrounding forests make up the world s second largest standing rainforest. Mwagna is probably the Bongo Antelope capital of Gabon - these majestic forest antelopes congregate in bais - up to 30 have been seen together in bais to the north of the Park. Liboumba River Sitatunga and other antelopes live here. Observing one of these beautiful creatures in its natural environment is a moving experience. Biological reconnaissance teams from WWF and WCS have explored the area since Studies found that elephants, bongos, and many birds are plentiful in the Park, but gorilla populations appear to have been decimated. Elephant poaching is an imminent threat. Lodié River Biodiversity levels are high in the Park. Good populations of near-mythical leopards exist still in these forests, along with other predator species. High numbers of monkeys including the localized DeBrazza Monkey are found around the Park, but hard to see where hunted. Access to the Park is via rivers or from small villages. The closest villages are Malouma to the north and Bakwaka to the south. Vistors will go overland from here or by river to get to the Park. 233 MWAGNA NATIONAL PARK

4 Mwange - Right - 2 Louayé River The greater Minkebe forest is known for high numbers of Forest Elephants, one of the highest in Africa! One of Gabon s mineral bais, Mwagna Bai, is yet to be studied in detail but is known to be important for elephants. Rainforest Gorillas and Chimpanzee populations are now low here, as Ebola virus moved in and out of the area in the early 2000s, leaving more resistant animals to slowly rebuild ape populations. Mwagna national park N UNEXPLORED PRIMEVAL FOREST ONE OF AFRICA S LAST GREAT RAINFORESTS Mwagna and its surrounding forests represent one of Africa s last frontiers, almost uninhabited except by Forest People and other hunters. As such, its grand intact rainforest - full of elephants, birds, monkeys and other wildlife - is one of the treasures of Gabon and of the planet. Mwagna is filled with bais including Gabon s largest, but little is known about this bai. What other rare species like Bongo Antelopes, Giant Forest Hog, Sitatunga and Spot-necked Otter live here? How many new species might be found, like the recently described butterflies from Langoué Bai? Are there rare birds too, including Dja River Warbler? Much biological information is unknown about Mwagna - in this way it is similar to Langoué Bai, which was not discovered until Mwagna and Minkebe National Parks are some of the last frontiers of the planet. Initial studies indicate a particular richness of Forest Elephant numbers, which need ongoing protection from hunters. DISCOVERY ZONE As a last African frontier, Mwagna s status as a largely unknown place of great mystique - with giant trees and lonely rivers - particularly suits adventure tourism. Tales, even if mythical, of creatures like Mokele-Mbembe from Congo enhance Mwagna s reputation for mysterious attraction. Fewer and fewer places on the planet can claim to be truly unknown frontiers, resulting in enhanced value. MWAGNA MWAGNA NATIONAL PARK 234

5 A Place for Adventure Not all rainforest wildlife consists of massive elephants and grand forest antelopes. Here in the primeval forest, potential discovery in an unknown land will attract nature explorers seeking an expedition full of wild surprises. Adventurers will appreciate working their way through the vegetation to find the hidden animals essential to rainforest ecosystems - mongoose and snake, bat and butterfly. At Mwagna, small monkeys, guenons, bushbabies and galagos, many species of squirrels, hyrax, hogs, buffalo, duikers, and sitatunga mingle in the forest. Here adventurers may encounter unusual and intruiging animals such as the Hammerhead Bat, Moustached Guenon, or Putty-nosed monkey. Red, Blue, Yellowbacked, and Peters Duikers all roam the forest, as well as Water Chevrotain. Also seen are the Tree Hyrax and two species of squirrel: African Pygmy and Stanger s Giant. Bird sightings are sure to happen, as pigeons, parrots, cuckoos, hornbills, turacos, water birds, and raptors all inhabit the area. Bodytext is here TOP AND ABOVE RIGHT: Orb-weaving spiders and other small wonders will enhance a tourist s adventure. ABOVE: Lucky explorers might find the Gaboon Viper, dangerous but not very aggressive. RIGHT: One is more likely to meet a caterpillar with stinging spines than a poisonous snake. LEFT: Hartlaub s Duck is one of the distinctive avian species of Afro-tropical forests. FAR LEFT: Nile Monitors haunt the forest floor. 235 MWAGNA NATIONAL PARK

6 rich BIODIVERSITY CREATURES LARGE AND SMALL As one moves deeper into the interior of Gabon, one enters the unknown forests of Africa. One might expect that Africa s richest, most intact forests are in Democratic Republic of Congo, in the geographic center of the continent, but aerial mapping indicates the most intact areas of the Congo Basin (with low human densities) actually lie in eastern Gabon and northern Republic of Congo. These areas hold extremely high value for global biodiversity preservation and are huge stores of carbon. RIGHT: Sitatunga and at least five species of duiker roam Mwagna s forests. BELOW RIGHT: The Park is known for large numbers of Forest Elephants. FAR RIGHT: Lucky visitors will get to see traditional dances and ceremonies of the Congo Basin s forest tribes. Local Bakota ceremonies are world-famous. BELOW: Mwagna provides habitat for the Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill and five other hornbill species. Scientists from WWF, WCS, and DFC have carried out exploratory expeditions and biological inventories, including a visit to the mythical Mwagna bai, considered sacred by local peoples. They found Gabon s equivalent of Odzala (the renowned park across the border in Congo) with multiple bais teeming with wildlife. Recent surveys revealed the presence of cross-border poaching pressure, with elephants facing the most danger. Constant antipoaching patrols are needed to calm animals and lay the foundations for future tourism development. WWF is funding surveys in Congo to explore possibilities for a transborder park. BOTTOM: Beautiful colors appear in strange shapes. MWAGNA MWAGNA NATIONAL PARK 236

7 Science and Protection WWF science and patrol teams in the 50,000 km 2 collective Minkebe/Mwagna area help protect one of Africa's large Forest Elephant populations in the rainforest areas around Mwagna and the Belinga/Djoua/Zadié forest. Out of an estimated 200,000 Forest Elephants in Rainforest Africa, more than 40,000 live in this critical area. Aerial and ground surveys indicate that Mwagna has the largest population of magnificent Bongo Antelopes in all of Gabon s National Parks. The core of Mwagna remains largely inviolate. Hunting pressure comes from public roads in the periphery, typically reaching 20 km into the forest. Most of the Park remains outside hunting territories. Elephant poaching near the Park needs continued monitoring. ACTIVITY-BASED ADVENTURE TOURISM Hidden camera traps reveal animal trends. For instance, in forested central Gabon images from of WCS's Dr. Phillip Henschell s research using camera traps indicates that leopards are active by day in areas distant from people. Near villages, however, leopard behavior becomes nocturnal and the big cats are more difficult to see. TOP: WWF patrols must constantly monitor the area to keep elephant hunters out of the Park. Elephant hunting is illegal here. ABOVE LEFT: Aerial surveys revealed large groups of Africa s Bongo Antelope in Mwagna s many bais. LEFT: Undisturbed leopards are normally active by day, but when faced with hunting pressure from people, leopard behavior becomes nocturnal. 237 MWAGNA NATIONAL PARK

8 PYGMY VILLAGES Pygmy villages in this area will be interesting to tourists who visit the Park. minimal development ACTIVITY-BASED ADVENTURE TOURISM 5km Buffer Zone P C RIVER ACCESS The Lodié River provides access to the west side of the Park. Boats can get to Mwagna all the way from Makokou. MARANTACEAE FOREST The forest in this area is particularly hospitable to gorillas. C P River navigable to here 5km Buffer Zone MULTIPLE BAIS Numerous swampy clearings in the jungle, some with mineral salts, are visited by herds of antelopes and other animals. C To Odzala The ideal development plan for Mwagna will initially focus on wild adventure and exploration of nature. Minimal infrastructure development will make Mwagna the ideal park for ultra-wild adventure while also preserving the undisturbed nature of the Park. This unexplored land has great appeal to tourists seeking adventure without the comforts of home. Development based around activities rather than infrastructure is proposed, as adventure tourists seek a wild experience in nature. A specialty tour operator experienced in adventure tourism would be ideal. Excellent logistics organized from a hub in Makokou will be the best way to cater to wild tourist adventures in the bush. Boats can access the west side of the Park from Makokou via the Libouma and Lodié Rivers, and the Louayé River in the northeast is partially navigable. Branches barring the rivers can make navigation extremely difficult. Bakota Pygmy villages accessible by road and foot may wish to get involved by hosting small groups of tourists en route to or from the Park. Local expertise about plants and animals can enhance research and design for tourist activities. HIDDEN BAI Mwagna Bai, deep in the Park, is sacred to local people. The forest contains other bais that have not yet been explored. POACHING PROBLEMS Poachers coming over the border from Congo create a serious problem here due to the difficulty of patrolling. No Go Zone Republic of the Congo KEY CROSS BORDER PARK Losi, in Congo is a candidate for a cross border park, to protect this delicate area. BELOW: The best exploration of the Park will be on foot and by pirogue - the same method used by park patrols. GABON PARKS (1) VILLAGE ZONE (3) N PYGMY VILLAGES Pygmy villages exist in this area, as well as the north of the Park km Buffer Zone PARK AREA PARK INFRASTRUCTURE (1A) ENTRY OFFICE PATROL RESEARCH AIRSTRIP CONCESSIONAIRE ZONE (2) CONCESSION H PROPOSED HOTEL SITE H PROPOSED HOTEL (Site to be Found) H C C EXISTING HOTEL PROPOSED CAMP SITE EXISTING CAMP SITE AIRSTRIP VILLAGE ZONE OFF LIMITS ZONE (4) NO GO ZONE BUFFER ZONE (5) BUFFER TRANSPORTATION MAJOR ROAD MINOR ROAD UNIMPROVED PROPOSED ROAD TRAIL PROPOSED TRAIL TRAIN TRAIN STATION MWAGNA Km MWAGNA NATIONAL PARK 238

9 Mwange - Left - 5 the legend of mokélé-mbembé The mysterious dinosaur of the Congo Basin Mokélé-mbembé is a legendary creature that holds a special place in Africa s natural history. Described as a large dinosaur-like animal with characteristics similar to a sauropod (a long neck and tail), the beast is rumored to haunt swampy areas deep in the Congo Basin. The fame of Mokélé-mbembé extends from small tribes to international cryptozoological experts, and numerous expeditions have been conducted in search of this mysterious giant. The creature often appears in books chronicling adventures in Africa, some specifically following the trail of the animal in an attempt to prove or disprove its existence. This well-known Congo Basin legend provides an opportunity to enhance tourism at Mwagna. Tourism operations might include outings with local people to search for signs of Mokélé-mbembé, organized gatherings around a fire to share local oral history, a themed bar/restaurant, and production and sales of souvenirs PARC MWAGNA NATIONAL NATIONAL DE MAYUMBA PARK

10 wild adventure at mwagna A PARK FOR NATURAL AND SELF-DISCOVERY Mwagna s forest frontier offers adventure for the hardy soul; it is a tough place for the faint of heart. The main market for this park will be those seeking the challenge of a journey through untamed wilderness. Due to the difficulties in accessing deep forest, the human intruder is bound to discover as much about themself as they will about the natural world. Much of Mwagna is yet to be explored by science. Tourism here may include scientific inventories and other outings for research. LEFT: An adventure traveler s photographs will record the trip of a lifetime deep in Africa s forest. BELOW: At Mwagna, one can explore unknown forest - a challenge that offers a refreshing change from the demands of everyday life. Adventure travelers seek such wild expeditions in nature. MWAGNA MWAGNA NATIONAL PARK 240