national park national park national park country largest protected area national park contains second largest area primary tropical west_africa neighbouring agriculture construction fishing hunting human settlement logging prohibited park national park located upper forest ecosystem biodiversity highest species diversity region world according lowland forests according classification scheme history designation early history created manage preserve country forest resources year later formed leadership served head seven protected areas proposed including national parks national park named local tribe formally designated time years covered area km2 east south park original boundaries set management plan drafted cooperation history national park threatened illegal farming hunting logging mining exacerbated country grinding poverty social political instability early 1990s world conservation monitoring centre reported rural development projects park general acceptance existence helped potential conflicts 1990s limited initiatives funded local villagers park preservation civil war civil war national park fell hands rebel forces park infrastructure equipment damaged destroyed including wildlife rehabilitation facility constructed supported park employees killed seven refugees extent illegal resource extraction inside park period rebel control disputed professor environmental science biology writes rampant war reported logging limited farming hunting pressures population displacement including exodus people dozen villages surrounding park prevailing climate extent species populations actually increased war years official posted noted park war time haven small groups people food hunted survive logging common war end allegations surfaced president sold concessions worth millions united_states dollars hong_kong based timber company conduct logging boundaries park funds reportedly taylor secure loyalty senior commanders arm loyalist forces embroiled acquire mercenary fighters south_africa minister information denied allegations noting evidence logging found team week visit park post war developments fauna wwf worked prepare year initiative restart management park mainly funded darwin initiative united_kingdom world wildlife fund objectives initiative establish park management build support park local community build capacity conservation management planning received grant begin programme monitor park large mammals slow progress establishment protected areas national park proclaimed country protected area approval national park act act extension national park october expanded size park km2 increase act recognised park core immense forests block important conservation biodiversity west_africa km2 acres covering percent forest land created time second protected area peace followed conclusion gave rise new threats park groups fighters civilians moved park final months conflict escape conflict harvest timber prospect gold influx people park continued war end eventually growing scale gold rush accompanying following hunters combatants park animals sell meat settlers march estimated people lived park according efforts undertaken remove illegal park completely emptied late august early september participation government united_nations forces remote location near complete absence amenities visitor housing recreational facilities visitors national park entry park prohibited approval roads lead park reached foot park trails geography climate located southwestern national park covers area km2 park bounded north west park flat topography supports large area forest southeastern area lower elevations approximately gentle hills elevations steep ridges north small streams rivers ridges river largest river park summit highest elevation park park tropical climate temperatures ranging forest average relative humidity annual precipitation south park headquarters averaged 1980s park dry season occurs november april wet season lasts october january december months park august months mid dry period decreased rainfall july occasionally extends august dry season smaller streams dry sandy rocky stream beds exposed dry season causes larger rivers shrink size exposing rainy season river levels rise night forests near rivers biodiversity airplane forest time block kelly olive green stretching horizon search breaks canopy find far eyes earth solid flora largest remaining upper forest ecosystem estimated remaining forest rest upper forest located remaining forest guinea estimated original forest cover remains area covered natural forest tracts forest continuous fragmented blocks isolated result logging road building cultivation human settlements civil war calculated original forest disturbed productive disturbed national park forest country remaining blocks tropical lowland rain forest west_africa disturbed lowland second largest area primary tropical west_africa park richest amounts floral species country endemic species survey park determined composed primary mature secondary forest swamp forest inundated forest young secondary forest forest trees grow height forest canopy height ranges average height plant species found park include tree fauna national park regional centre biodiversity time hosting species types bird including number threatened species african golden cat drill white white park home african african fish eagle african grey giant forest great blue water species seven species monkey including endangered diana monkey bee prior formal designation national park systematic study populations surveys confirmed existence common pan located primarily park center western areas estimates population ranging culture local people includes reverence taboo hunting seven species found including vulnerable bay reported locally abundant contains populations endangered species legal protection unique west_africa wild population thought number individuals according iucn conservation efforts targeted species historically effective national park protection good according action plan published national park realistic choice suitable conservation area february automatic motion sensing cameras set national park captured photographs taken photographs confirmed continued presence species inside boundaries park previously scientists know population park survived civil wars subsequent logging endangered african forest elephant present park population estimates ranging early 1980s end decade iucn considers recent surveys relied counts low quality reliability
Sapo National Park