Dja Faunal Reserve

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Dja Faunal Reserve from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Ropalidia crassipunctata Giordani Soika 1981

  A rare wasp species, Ropalidia crassipunctata Giordani Soika 1981, has been documented within the Dja Faunal Reserve. The study highlights the discovery of a single female specimen with a distinctive black nest featuring masticated green and reddish-brown chips, mimicking the wasp's coloration. The nest, observed in Cameroon, exhibited up to ten cells with vertical cell direction and downward openings, suggesting an adaptive camouflage strategy. This finding contributes to the understanding of wasp nesting behavior and biodiversity within protected areas.

  Polašek, O. (2026). Ropalidia crassipunctata Giordani Soika 1981. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.18685658

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• Population structure and natural regeneration of the threatened medicinal tree Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman in an Afromontane forest reserve of Cameroon

  A severely truncated population structure of the threatened medicinal tree Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman, indicative of compromised regeneration and high vulnerability to extinction, has been documented within the Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon. The study revealed an inverse-J distribution with critically low density—60 seedlings/ha, 22 saplings/ha, 11 poles/ha, and only 3 mature trees/ha—alongside widespread bark-harvesting damage (81% of mature trees affected). Analysis further demonstrated a sharp decline in stem density and seedling recruitment within 200 meters of the forest edge, correlating with heightened damage intensity. These findings underscore the urgent need for a harvesting moratorium and targeted conservation interventions to restore P. africana populations in Afromontane forests.

  Mba, J.-B. F., Nkwenti, C., & Ngono, B. M. (2026). Population structure and natural regeneration of the threatened medicinal tree Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman in an Afromontane forest reserve of Cameroon. International Journal of Herbal Medicine, 14(4), 16–20. https://doi.org/10.22271/flora.2026.v14.i4a.1105

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• Subsistence hunting impacts wildlife assemblages and functional ecology in tropical forests

  Subsistence hunting by sedentarised Baka communities, even when spatially managed with no-take zones, significantly alters the abundance and composition of wildlife assemblages in tropical forests. While species richness remains relatively stable, the study found marked reductions in carnivores, seed dispersers, and granivores compared to non-hunted reference areas within the Dja Faunal Reserve. This suggests that spatial hunting management may not fully mitigate ecological impacts on key functional groups, raising concerns about the sustainability of Indigenous livelihoods and forest ecosystems. The research employed extensive camera trap surveys across 10 Baka hunting zones to assess species occupancy, abundance, and community dynamics.

  Cain, B., Fa, J. E., Amin, R., Morrison, J., Avila Martin, E., Funk, S. M., Jones, M., Mallon, D. P., Okale, R., Ros Brull, G., & de Kort, S. R. (2025). Subsistence hunting impacts wildlife assemblages and functional ecology in tropical forests. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87162-w

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• Vanishing giants: Assessing forest elephant status and conservation strategies in Cameroon's Dja-Ngoyla Complex

  A recent study estimates that the forest elephant population in Cameroon's Dja-Ngoyla Complex, a critical UNESCO World Heritage Site, has declined to approximately 509 individuals (95% CI: 352–736), with densities similar to other threatened Central African sites. Using standing-crop dung counts across 1,096.64 km of line transects in 2021, researchers found elephants are increasingly restricted to core areas far from boundaries and anthropogenic development, particularly within the World Heritage-listed Dja Faunal Reserve (5260 km²), where the population remained stable at 230 individuals (95% CI: 144–368). The study underscores the urgent risk of isolation for this population and calls for forest management certification to protect wildlife and habitats across logging concessions, ensuring both conservation success and community benefits. These findings highlight the vulnerability of Central African forest elephants and the need for transboundary conservation strategies in the 178,000 km² TRIDOM landscape.

  Fankem, O. Z., Bruce, T., Kobla, A. S., & Amin, R. (2025). Vanishing giants: Assessing forest elephant status and conservation strategies in Cameroon’s Dja-Ngoyla Complex. Global Ecology and Conservation, 62, e03843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03843

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• Spatio-temporal variation in the distribution of great apes in the Dja-Ngoyla Complex in Cameroon, and implications for conservation

  A recent study estimates that the Dja-Ngoyla Complex in Cameroon, a critical part of the Tri National Dja-Odzala-Minkébé (TRIDOM) landscape, supports approximately 11,787 great apes, including chimpanzees and western lowland gorillas. The research, conducted through 1,096.64 km of line transects using the standing-crop nest counts method in 2021, reveals that chimpanzee abundance is significantly higher in Dja Faunal Reserve, while Ngoyla-Mintom holds 71% of the gorilla population. Notably, logging concessions within the complex harbor 37% of gorillas and 17% of chimpanzees, with those under management certification schemes showing higher great ape densities. The study also underscores the potential isolation risk for Dja's great ape population and emphasizes the urgent need for forest management certification to bolster wildlife protection across all concessions in the complex.

  Fankem, O. Z., Kobla, A. S., Bruce, T., Oum Ndjock, G., Sock, B., Kekeunou, S., Fowler, A., Olson, D., Wacher, T., & Amin, R. (2025). Spatio-temporal variation in the distribution of great apes in the Dja-Ngoyla Complex in Cameroon, and implications for conservation. Oryx, 59(5), 668–678. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605325000444

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• Habitat Selection and Seed Dispersal by the Great Blue Turaco ( Corythaeola cristata ) in the Rainforests of Southern Cameroon

  A first-of-its-kind study reveals significant individual variation in habitat selection and seed dispersal patterns among great blue turacos (Corythaeola cristata) in the Dja Faunal Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southern Cameroon. Using GPS tracking and LiDAR-derived vegetation data, researchers found that while some individuals prefer tall canopy areas, others avoid swamps and complex vertical structures. Seed dispersal was predicted to be more diffuse for turacos with larger home ranges, with local maxima nearly ten times smaller than those with smaller territories. This research highlights the need for broader telemetry studies in central African forests, which face growing threats from hunting, logging, habitat loss, and climate change.

  Tekam, A. S. A., Russo, N. J., Sonké, B., Deblauwe, V., Nshom, D. L., Barbier, N., Ferraz, A., Saatchi, S., Wikelski, M., Ordway, E. M., & Smith, T. B. (2025). Habitat Selection and Seed Dispersal by the Great Blue Turaco ( Corythaeola cristata ) in the Rainforests of Southern Cameroon. Biotropica, 58(1). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.70153

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• Divergent seed dispersal outcomes: Interactions between seed, disperser, and forest traits

  Research in the Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon, reveals that duikers—African forest antelopes—differentially disperse seeds based on size and toughness, with smaller seeds (<3 mm) primarily dispersed via defecation and larger, tougher seeds (>10 mm) regurgitated. This process, particularly regurgitation at nesting sites, significantly influences seed deposition in dense understory habitats dominated by lianas, palms, and fallen trees. The study found that nocturnal bay duikers (Cephalophus dorsalis) deposit larger seeds 3-4 times more frequently than other species due to their nesting habits. These findings underscore the critical yet understudied role of regurgitation in seed dispersal, with potential implications for forest succession and structure worldwide.

  Dehaudt, B., Bruce, T., Deblauwe, V., Ferraz, A., Gardner, B., Bibila, T. G. ’., LeBreton, M., Mempong, G., Njabo, K., Nkengbeza, S. N., Ordway, E. M., Pavan, L., Russo, N. J., Smith, T. B., & Luskin, M. S. (2024). Divergent seed dispersal outcomes: Interactions between seed, disperser, and forest traits. Ecology, 105(10). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4409

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