Bia National Park
{{Short description|National park in Ghana}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Bia National Park
| map = Ghana
| relief = 1
| coordinates = {{coord|6|5|N|3|6|W|display=inline, title}}
| display =
| location = Western North Region of Ghana
| nearest_city = Sekondi-Takoradi
| area = 563 km²
| established = 1974
| governing_body =
}}
Bia National Park is a national park in the Bia West district in the Western North Region of Ghana. It is also a biosphere reserve with a 563 square kilometer resource reserve. It has some of Ghana's last remnants of relatively untouched forest complete with its full diversity of wildlife. Some of the tallest trees left in West Africa are found in this national park.{{cite web|url=http://tourism.thinkghana.com/nature_wildlife/bia_national_park/|title=Bia National Park|work=tourism.thinkghana.com|access-date=2 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123001351/http://tourism.thinkghana.com/nature_wildlife/bia_national_park/|archive-date=23 January 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanaexpeditions.com/regions/highlight_detail.asp?id=&rdid=452|title=Wildlife and Nature Reserves|work=ghanaexpeditions.com|access-date=2 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711091737/http://www.ghanaexpeditions.com/regions/highlight_detail.asp?id=&rdid=452|archive-date=11 July 2011|url-status=dead}} It constitutes a twin conservation area called the Bia National Park and the Bia Resource Reserve.{{Cite web|title=The Bia National Park and Bia Resource Reserve, Ghana|url=https://www.fcghana.org/page.php?page=268§ion=32&typ=1&subs=274|access-date=2020-08-11|website=www.fcghana.org}}{{Cite web|date=2018-10-22|title=Bia Biosphere Reserve, Ghana|url=https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/africa/bia|access-date=2020-08-11|website=UNESCO|language=en}}
History
Bia was created in 1935 and named after the Bia River which drains the area.{{cite web|url=http://gh.chm-cbd.net/biodiversity/nationalparks.htm|title=National Parks in Ghana|work=chm-cbd.net|publisher=Ghanaian Clearing-House Mechanism|access-date=2 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723041817/http://gh.chm-cbd.net/biodiversity/nationalparks.htm|archive-date=23 July 2011}} It became an official national park in 1974.{{Cite web|last=December 30|first=Maxwell|last2=Pm|first2=2019 at 12:56|date=2015-05-04|title=Bia National Park Ghana|url=https://www.africatouroperators.org/ghana/bia-national-park|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Africa Tour Operators|language=en-US}} Intensive farming destroyed much of the original vegetation in the park.{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanaembassy.or.jp/travel_tourism/wildlife_parks.html|title=Ghana National Game & Wildlife Parks|work=ghanaembassy.or.jp|publisher=The Ghana Embassy in Japan|access-date=12 January 2010}} However, since 1975, no human activities like farming or logging have taken place. In 1985 the park was named a biosphere reserve and a UNESCO world heritage site.{{harvnb|Boyle|Boontawee|1995| p=247}}
Geography
Bia National Park is located near the Ivorian border, the Bia River, and its tributaries flow into the Ivorian drainage area. It is found in the transitional zone between moist-evergreen and moist semi-deciduous forest types.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcghana.com/eco_tourism/bia.htm|title=Bia National Park & Resource Reserve/Biosphere Reserve|work=fcghana.com|publisher=The Forestry Commission of Ghana|access-date=2 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127124626/http://www.fcghana.com/eco_tourism/bia.htm|archive-date=27 January 2010|url-status=dead}} Access to the park from Kumasi is through Bibiani, Sefwi Wiawso to Sefwi Asempanaye or Goaso through Sankore to Sefwi Asempanaye. From Sunyani, it can be reached through Berekum, Wanfi, Adabokrom and Debiso. From Ivory Coast the park can be reached through Osei Kojokrom and Debiso.
=Wildlife=
There are about 62 species of mammals (including 10 primate species which are the Black-and-White colobus, the olive colobus, red colobus monkeys and chimpanzees) known to live in the park, and over 189 bird species, including the endangered white-breasted guinea fowl, black-collared lovebird, Cassin's hawk-eagle, honeyguide greenbul, black-headed oriole, brown and Puvel's illadopsis, Finsch's flycatcher-thrush, grey-headed negrofinch, western nicator, spotted greenbul, grey-headed bristlebill, fire-bellied woodpecker and melancholy woodpecker).{{Cite web|title=Bia National Park.|url=https://adventurebirdingtours.com/bia-national-park/|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Adventure Birding Tours|language=en-GB|archive-date=26 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126072349/http://adventurebirdingtours.com/bia-national-park/|url-status=dead}} The park has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of many bird species.{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bia-national-park-and-resource-reserve-iba-ghana|title= Bia National Park and Resource Reserve|author= |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-11-15}} The park is also the only known home of the newly discovered species of lizard, Agama africana.{{cite web|url=http://www.travelcareholdings.com/nature.php|title=About Ghana|work=travelcareholdings.com|publisher=TravelCare Holdings|access-date=4 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302033424/http://www.travelcareholdings.com/nature.php|archive-date=2 March 2010|url-status=dead}} Ghana's major protected forest antelope communities also live in the park.{{harvnb|East|1990|p=70}} The forest elephant and the bongo which is claimed to be highly threatened can be found there.
=Climate=
{{Empty section|date=April 2024}}
Activities
Walking trails and road to the Park reserve of the forest, where wild animals and birds can be spotted. Ecological studies and snail picking are also undertaken in the reserve.{{Cite web|title=Bia {{!}} United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/africa/ghana/bia/|access-date=2020-08-11|website=www.unesco.org}} A cultural site called Apaso located in the park close to two small pools is claimed to be a sacred place for visitors to sacrifice and give gifts to the gods.
Bibliography
{{commons category|Bia National Park}}
;Notes
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
;References
{{Refbegin|2}}
- {{cite book |last=Boyle|first=Timothy James Butler |last2=Boontawee|first2=B.| title = Measuring and monitoring biodiversity in tropical and temperate forests: proceedings of a IUFRO symposium held at Chiang Mai, Thailand, August 27th — September 2nd, 1994|edition=1995|year=1995| publisher = CIFOR| isbn= 979-8764-01-3 }} - Total pages: 395
- {{cite book |last=East|first=Rod;(IUCN/SSC Specialist Antelope Group)| title = Antelopes: Global Survey and Regional Action Plans Part 3. West and Central Africa|edition=1990|year=1990| publisher = IUCN| isbn= 2-8317-0016-7}} - Total pages: 171
{{Refend}}
{{National Parks of Ghana}}
{{authority control}}
Category:National parks of Ghana