Bakossi Forest Reserve, Protected rainforest reserve in Southwest Region, Cameroon.
Bakossi Forest Reserve is a protected rainforest area in southwestern Cameroon marked by mountainous terrain and thick cloud forests. Numerous streams and rivers run through the reserve, creating diverse habitats at various elevations.
The reserve was established in 1956 and gained stronger protection in 2000 when authorities designated it a protection forest with a complete logging ban. This change marked a critical moment in safeguarding the area from commercial extraction.
The Bakossi people have lived in connection with these forests for generations, viewing them as central to their way of life. Today, you can see how local communities actively participate in protecting and managing the land through traditional practices.
Visitors need permits from local authorities to enter the reserve, and guides from nearby villages can lead walks along established trails. Good physical fitness is important since paths are steep and wet conditions are common.
Mount Kupe within the area hosts an exceptional variety of birds with about 329 known species, including a bushshrike that lives nowhere else on Earth. These endemic species make the summit a draw for bird watchers and nature observers.
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