0 SAVING THREATENED BIRDS in SUI RIVER FOREST By: Gilbert Adum, SAVE the FROGS! Ghana, Box KS 15924, Adum-Kumasi, Ghana (2020) C

Home , Anomalure, Eurillas, Grey longbill, Little grey greenbul, Rufous fishing owl, Sombre greenbul

SAVING THREATENED BIRDS IN SUI RIVER FOREST

By:

Gilbert Adum, SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana, Box KS 15924, Adum-Kumasi, Ghana

(2020)

CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... 2 SUMMARY ...... 3 1. BACKGROUND ...... 4 1.2 Aims of the project ...... 5 1.3 Project Area ...... 6 2. METHODOLOGY ...... 7 2.1 Study Design ...... 7 2.2 Data Collection ...... 9 2.2.1 Line Transect Counts ...... 9 2.2.2 Mist netting ...... 9 2.3 Data Analysis ...... 10 3. RESULTS ...... 11 3.1 Species diversity, composition & abundance ...... 11 3.2 Habitat Associations ...... 12 3.3 Conservation Status of Avian Species ...... 13 4. DISCUSSION OF AVIFAUNA DATA ...... 16 4.1 Avian diversity, abundance & composition ...... 16 4.2 Tackling hunting & trapping of wildlife in Sui Forest ...... 17 5. AWARENESS CREATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ...... 18 5.1 Habitat Restoration ...... 20 6. REFERENCES ...... 21 APPENDIX 1: Species listed along each transect ...... 24 APPENDIX 2: IBA qualifying species recorded during transect counts ...... 27 APPENDIX 3: Some additional photos for the survey ...... 30 APPENDIX 4: Details of interview surveys ...... 32 APPENDIX 5: Geographic coordinates for transects & mist nets ...... 33 APPENDIX 6: Project budget ...... 34

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We dedicate this report to the memory of Japheth Roberts who worked hard on this project until his untimely death. His contributions to this ABC project and nature conservation in Ghana will not be forgotten. May his soul rest in perfect peace. We would like to express our profound gratitude to our funder, African Bird Club for the financial support. We also thank Ghana Wildlife Society for their survey work and their additional financial support. We are also grateful to Julian Branscombe for his technical input. To the chiefs, elders and the good people bordering the Sui Forest, we say thank-you for hosting us throughout our work on the birds of Sui forest. We are also grateful to the Forestry Commission, Ghana Wildlife Division, A Rocha Ghana, to all our followers and other sister-organisations who are collaborating with us through surveys to make Sui forest a safe haven for wildlife.

SUMMARY Save Ghana Frogs (SGF) (formerly SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana) received a £3,000 Conservation Award for the Saving Threatened Birds in Sui River Forest project in Ghana’s Western North Region. This site, part of the Upper Guinea Forest biodiversity hotspot, is at threat from logging, farm encroachment, fire and hunting. SGF commissioned Ghana Wildlife Society, the country’s BirdLife partner, to survey 50km 2 of forest using transect counts and mist-netting. This recorded 77 species, including Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus (IUCN Endangered: close to extinct in Ghana) and Black-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata (localised & declining in Ghana). Whilst this forest has suffered from habitat degradation, records of specialist species of closed forest included Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halycon badia , Yellow-billed Turaco Tauraco macrorhynchus , Rufous-sided Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis , Blue Cuckoo-shrike Cyanograucalus azureus , Olive Long- tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx olivinus , Forest Robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax , Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus and Western Bearded Greenbul Criniger barbatus . Hunter surveys also suggested the continued presence of a range of IUCN Red List species including White-breasted Guineafowl Agelastes meleagrides , Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri , Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata and Brown-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes cylindricus . SGF will undertake further work to confirm these records and establish whether further Red List and Upper Guinea Forest species, recorded by Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett in other parts of this Forest Reserve in 2008, are still present. The award also supported the commencement of restoration of five farms, totalling 15 hectares, where local people planted 5,600 seedlings of native tree species. This action reverses habitat fragmentation and reduces fire risk, which is now a serious threat to this semi-evergreen rainforest. Forest, bird and frog conservation messages were delivered to three local schools, and through a durbar organised by the area’s Paramount Chief. This ABC support ensured continuity to SGF’s work with the local community – the decade- long relationship might otherwise have been broken. With SGF being economically vulnerable, the ABC grant also supported a feasibility study into additional income streams for the charity. The biodiversity importance of the Sui River Forest Reserve had largely been overlooked within the country, until SGF discovered Giant Squeaker Frog Artholeptis krokosua here (this is the only known site for this Critically Endangered species). The ABC Conservation Fund support has played a significant role in securing the long-term goals of strict protection from logging and locally-driven forest conservation as a Community Resource Management Area.

1. BACKGROUND The Sui River Forest Reserve (Sui Forest) is among the few remnant forests in Ghana that have not suffered much degradation (e.g. see Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett (2014). The reserve hosts the world’s last remaining population of the Critically Endangered Giant Squeaker Frog Arthroleptis krokosua along with a wide range of other IUCN Red List species, many of which are Upper Guinea Forest endemics. Some of these include the Critically Endangered Western Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes verus ; Endangered Ringed River Frog Phrynobatrachus annulatus ; Vulnerable West African Dwarf Crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis tetraspis, Data Deficient Pel’s Anomalure (Flying Squirrel) Anomalurus pelii etc.

This ABC funded project extended the focus of SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana’s work to cover Red List, Upper Guinea Forest endemic and closed canopy forest bird species. In fact, over the years that we have been working on amphibians in Sui Forest, we are also conscious about the plight of birds in the forest. Their population and existence are hampered by local people’s indiscriminate activities comprising illegal logging, farming, hunting and trapping (Grey Parrots and the White-breasted Guineafowl) in the forest (see Figure 1 for evidence of some of these activities). It is important to confirm the continued presence of especially conservation priority species. Within the Sui Forest, Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett (2014) recorded the presence of the Endangered African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus ; Vulnerable White- breasted Guineafowl Agelastes meleagrides , Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri , Brown- cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes cylindricus and Yellow-casqued Hornbill Bycanistes cylindricus ; and Near-threatened Green-tailed Bristlebill Bleda eximius , Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus , Yellow-footed Honeyguide Melignomon eisentrauti , Copper-tailed Glossy Starling Hylopsar cupreocauda and Rufous-winged Illadopsis Illadopsis rufescens .

In addition to the aforementioned threats, local people have limited awareness of the importance of birds and wildlife laws and that make them apathetic and pessimistic. We thus, followed to increase local communities understanding and appreciation of the value of birds in the ecosystem and developed community participation in the long-term conservation of birds and their habitats. By creating conservation awareness and protection strategies, we galvanised support for not only the protection of birds but also the entire ecosystem.

A B

C D

Figure 1: Major anthropogenic activities in the Sui Forest

A: Used gun cartridges found on the forest floor; B: An illegal farm; C: Illegal lumber found in the Sui Forest; D: Timber company logging site in the Sui Forest.

1.1 Aims of the Project The overarching objective of this project was to sustain ongoing strategies to protect Red List, Upper Guinea Forest endemic and closed canopy forest bird species in the Sui Forest. The specific objectives were to:

1. Conduct bird surveys to update knowledge of the priority species at Sui Forest, and to provide recommendations for follow-up surveys and monitoring work for the future.

2. Create awareness so that schoolchildren, hunters and community leaders can understand the importance of the forest for priority bird species and recognise the impact of illegal trapping and hunting.

3. Conduct tree-planting work to sustain ongoing forest restoration programme.

1.2 Project Area Sui Forest ( Figure 4) in south-west Ghana (6°10'0" N, 2°43'60" W) is semi-evergreen rainforest at the eastern end of the Upper Guinea Forest Block, a global biodiversity hotspot. It consists of a range of hills running from the north-east to south, with an average height of 152m above sea level and the highest point being 556m above sea level. It is the source of many small streams and rivers. It forms a watershed between the Sui River to the west and the River Tano to the east and Yoyo River to the south. In the centre of the reserve is a swamp. The Reserve falls within the Tropical Humid Climatic zone with two pronounced seasons. These are the hot- dry harmattan (December-March) and the rainy seasons. The rainy season is from March to October and has two peaks, the principal one reaching its maximum in May/June and the subsidiary in October (Ghana Meteorological Services, 2010). The mean annual rainfall recorded for the area between the years 2000 and 2010 was over 1450mm. The mean annual temperature for the reserve ranges from 26°C to 29°C. The highest average temperature occurs in February (29°C) and the lowest during August (26°C). Relative humidity is high throughout the year, usually above 90% except during the harmattan in January and February when it falls to about 60% (Ghana Meteorological Services Division, 2010).

Figure 2: Map of Sui Forest showing different management zones including the area which has been proposed as a Giant Squeaker Frog sanctuary.

2. METHODOLOGY 2.1 Study Design Eight transects, each between 1 km and 4 km long were randomly selected for surveys. The extent of coverage at each of the study transects was determined by access, as some areas of the forest were not accessible. However, the various microhabitat types present in the study area were represented in at least one of the eight transects. Fixed width along transects was not considered. This is because the focus of the study was to record as many birds as possible present, and not to estimate density of species. Furthermore, Owusu (2001) argued that, while estimates of distance to visually observed birds are easier, estimation of distance to calls is more difficult and not reliable. Hence, in counts where visual observations and vocal records are combined, transect width is not taken into account (Pomeroy, 1992; Ntiamoa -Baidu et al. , 2000 a & b).

A road, 3.4 km long, that links Sefwi Bodi on the western side of the forest to Yawkrom on the eastern side was used as transect 1. About 1 km of the western side of the transect were

7 modified taungya farms. The area had just been cleared and some trees mainly Musanga spp. felled to allow enough sunlight into the farms. Beyond the modified taungya area, the forest is intact on both sides. Transects 2 and 3 were 1.3 km and 2.1 km long respectively. Both transects were along old logging trails north of transect 1. Both transects were within secondary forest of canopy height about 25 m with some emergent trees reaching 60 m high. Open areas had been colonized by Musanga spp. with thick undergrowth. Transect 4 was along a logging trail north of the forest and close to the Sui Village. It fell in a much degraded secondary forest area with canopy of about 20 m high. The transect passed through several illegal farms within some of which all standing trees have been felled. The 2.7 km transect extended into a more intact forest with a few emergent trees reaching 50 m high. Transect 5 began from an area that was given out for taungya in 2004. This area is now dominated by Mansonia altissima and Cedrela odorata that were used in a reforestation project. The 1.8 km transect passed through several active taungya farms and ended in a secondary forest with canopy height of about 25 m and few emergent trees reaching 50 m high. Transect 6 started from a secondary forest with closed canopy reaching 25 m high. The 2.2 km transect went through modified taungya farms and several other illegal farms ending in a closed secondary forest. Transect 7 was 2.9 km long, and along an active logging route. It passed through active taungya farms on the west and a hilly forest in the eastern side, which was difficult to penetrate. The transect ended at a timber loading site in the forest. Transect 8 is was 1.2 km along an old logging trail south of transect 1. Previously burnt areas along the transect were mainly covered by Musanga spp with thick undergrowth. Figure 5 is a map showing the location of transects. GPS Coordinates of all the transects have been provided in appendix 1.

Additionally, to confirm species identified during transect counts, and also to ensure that silent and undergrowth species, which may not have been recorded during transect counts were not missed, we employed mist-net captures at vantage areas within the forest. Thus, eight mist nets of 18 m long each, were set in series of four at two different locations in the forest where cryptic birds could be hiding. A picture of the mist nets is shown in figure 6. The coordinates of each location was taken (appendix 1) with a Garmin GPS Basemap 62.

Figure 3: Map showing the location of transects and mist nets

2.2 Data Collection

Two main techniques were used for the avian surveys: line transect counts and mist netting. The key reference used for bird identification was Borrow & Demey (2010), with unfamiliar bird calls confirmed using the recordings of Chappuis (2002). Data was collected from 9 th to 16 th August 2019.

2.2.1 Line Transect Counts

This is an active data collection method which entails slow and attentive walk along defined transects within the survey area to record all birds seen or heard. This sampling technique has an advantage of covering ground more quickly thus recording more birds than fixed point counts. The method also has less chance of double recording the same bird (Jones, 1990). Counts were done between 06:00 and 11:00 hrs for morning sections and 15:00 and 18:00 hrs for late afternoon sections. All birds encountered along transects were systematically recorded. Thus, for each bird species encountered; mode of detection (visual or vocal); microhabitat (for range restricted and IUCN Red listed species); activity at the instant of encounter and flock composition and size were recorded.

2.2.2 Mist Netting

Each net was allowed to stand for three days. Nets were opened between 06:00 hrs and 11:00 hrs and 15:00 hrs and 18:00 hrs on each day and were inspected at every two hours. All bird

9 species caught were identified and released. Birds encountered in opportunistic observations during field visits were also recorded and were included in the species list.

Figure 4: Survey team setting up a mist net

2.3 Data Analysis

Bird species abundance recorded during the line transect counts are reported as species and individual bird encounter rates per km. The Shannon-Wiener Index (Magurran, 1988) was used to calculate the species diversity as follows:

H’ = - Σpi ln pI, where,

H’= Shannon-Wiener index; pi = n i/N the proportion of individuals in the ith species (the maximum likelihood estimator)

N = total number of individuals recorded; and,

ni = number of individuals in the ith species

3. RESULTS 3.1 Species diversity, composition and abundance A total of 77 species belonging to 29 families were recorded within 50km2 of Sui Forest during the survey period (see Appendix 1 for a complete species list). The calculated Shannon-Wiener index was 3.653 signifying a high avian diversity in the forest. The dominant groups in the overall survey were Pycnonotidae (represented by 10 species), Lybiidae (8) and Cuculidae (5). An encounter rate of 4.37 species per kilometre and 72.52 birds per kilometre were recorded for the surveyed area. Some species were very rare compared with others per the calculated relative abundance (see Appendix 1 for calculated relative abundance of each species). The most common bird species found inside Sui Forest was the African Green Pigeon Treron calvus followed by the Little Greenbul Andropadus virens . Among the species recorded in low numbers (only 1-3 individuals recorded) were the Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus , Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus , Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens , Chestnut Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia castanea , Fire-bellied Woodpecker Dendropicos pyrrhogaster and Forest Robin Stiphronrnis erythrothorax .

Table 1: The twenty most abundant bird species recorded in transect counts in the Sui Forest

Species Number recorded Relative abundance African Green Pigeon 119 9.318716 Little Greenbul 111 8.692247 Yellow-throated Tinkerbird 66 5.168363 Yellow-mantled Weaver 51 3.993735 Speckled Tinkerbird 48 3.75881 Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher 47 3.680501 Collared Sunbird 46 3.602193 Naked-faced Barbet 44 3.445576 Red-headed Malimbe 43 3.367267 Green Hylia 42 3.288958 Common Bulbul 40 3.132341 Olive Sunbird 39 3.054033 Red-fronted Parrot 39 3.054033 African Pied Hornbill 33 2.584182

Grey-crowned Negrofinch 31 2.427565 Velvet-mantled Drongo 31 2.427565 West African Pied Hornbill 29 2.270948 Maxwell’s Black Weaver 29 2.270948 Woodland Kingfisher 25 1.957713 Western Black-headed Oriole 23 1.801096

3.2 Habitat Associations Almost all the species recorded except the Vieillot’s Barbet Lybius vieilloti somewhat visit or depend on forest habitats. Vieillot’s Barbet is associated with savannah woodland and thorn scrub. Of the total species count, 17 (>20%) species are wholly dependent on natural, mature forest habitats. We thus consider these species as Forest Specialist (see Table 2 ). Forest Specialist species are true forest birds i.e. typical of the interior of undisturbed forest and rarely seen in non-forest habitats (Mahiga et al . 2019).

Table 2: Forest Specialists recorded in transect counts in the Sui Forest (based on habitat associations given by Borrow and Demey 2010)

Species Common name Habitat association Chocolate-backed Halcyon badia Rainforest Kingfisher Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis Forest Black-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata Mature lowland forest Yellow-throated Pogoniulus Forest Tinkerbird subsulphureus Rufous-sided Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis Lower and middle storey of primary and old secondary forest interior Blue Cuckooshrike Coracina azurea Primary and mature secondary rainforest Forest Robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax Lowland rainforest, riverine forest, thickets and relict forest patches in savannah Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus Various types of forests

Red-fronted Parrot Poicephalus gulielmi Lowland forest Western Black-headed Oriolus brachyrhynchus Lowland forest Oriole Maxwell’s Black Ploceus albinucha Mature lowland forest Weaver Yellow-billed Turaco Tauraco macrorhynchus Exclusively forest based Olive long-tailed Cercococcyx olivinus Lowland forest Cuckoo Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus Forest interior Western Bearded Criniger barbatus Closed forest Greenbul Finsch’s Flycatcher Stizorhina finschi Lowland forest Thrush Green Hylia Hylia prasina Lowland forest and relict forest patches

3.3 Conservation Status of Avian Species Among the species encountered the Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus is listed as Endangered by IUCN. Also, incidental interviews with hunters revealed that the Vulnerable White-breasted Guineafowl Agelastes meleagrides and Rufous Fishing Owl Scotopelia ussheri are hunted and traded in Sui Forest. Overall, more than 60% of birds documented during our surveys are of conservation importance (Table 3); they are either globally threatened, protected by the Ghana Wildlife Conservation Regulation or categorised as IBA qualifying species. Local hunters also confirmed the presence of these IUCN threatened species in the Sui Forest: Vulnerable Yellow- casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata & Brown-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes cylindricus ; and Near-Threatened Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus and Copper-tailed Starling Hylopsar cupreocauda .

Table 3: Birds of conservation concern documented in Sui Forest during survey

Scientific name Common Name Threat Status Cercococcyx olivinus Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo LC/A3 Accipiter tachiro African Goshawk LC/Sch.I Accipiter melanoleucus Black Sparrowhawk LC/Sch.I Urotriorchis macrourus Long-tailed Hawk LC/Sch.I/A3 Buteo auguralis Red-necked Buzzard LC/Sch.I Treron calvus African Green Pigeon LC/Sch.II Turtur afer Blue-spotted Wood Dove LC/Sch.II Streptopelia semitorquata Red-eyed Dove LC/Sch.II Turtur tympanistria Tambourine Dove LC/Sch.II Ceratogymna atrata Black-casqued Hornbill LC/A3 Lophoceros fasciatus African Pied Hornbill LC/A3 Horizocerus albocristatus Western Long-tailed Hornbill LC/A3 Eurystomus gularis Blue-throated Roller LC/A3 Halcyon badia Chocolate-backed Kingfisher LC/A3 Cyanograucalus azureus Blue Cuckooshrike LC/A3 Illadopsis fulvescens Brown Illadopsis LC/A3 Chalcomitra adelberti Buff-throated Sunbird LC/A3 Dyaphorophyia castanea Chestnut Wattle-eye LC/A3 Nogrita bicolar Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch LC/A3 Stiphrornis erythrothorax Forest Robin LC/A3 Sylvietta virens Green Crombec LC/A3 Hylia prasina Green Hylia LC/A3 Bleda canicapillus Grey-headed Bristlebill LC/A3 Baeopogon indicator Honeyguide Greenbul LC/A3 Phyllastrephus icterinus Icterine Greenbul LC/A3 Macrosphenus kempi Kemp's Longbill LC/A3 Eurillas virens Little Greenbul LC/A3 Muscicapa epulata Little Grey Flycatcher LC/A3 Eurillas gracilis Little Grey Greenbul LC/A3 Ploceus albinucha Maxwell's Black Weaver LC/Sch.II/A3

Camaroptera chloronota Olive Green Camaroptera LC/A3 Terpsiphone rufiventer Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher LC/A3 Malimbus rubricollis Red-headed Malimbe LC/Sch.II/A3 Smithornis rufolateralis Rufous-sided Broadbill LC/A3 Criniger barbatus Western Bearded Greenbul LC/A3 Oriolus brachyrynchus Western Black-headed Oriole LC/A3 Nicator chloris Western Nicator LC/A3 Nigrita fusconotus White-breasted Negrofinch LC/A3 Alethe diademata White-tailed Alethe LC/A3 Camaroptera superciliaris Yellow-browed Camaroptera LC/A3 Ploceus tricolor Yellow-mantled Weaver LC/Sch.II/A3 Dendropicos pyrrhogaster Fire-bellied Woodpecker LC/A3 Tricholaema hirsuta Hairy-breasted Barbet LC/A3 Gymnobucco calvus Naked-faced Barbet LC/A3 Pogoniulus atroflavus Red-rumped Tinkerbird LC/A3 Pogoniulus scolopaceus Speckled Tinkerbird LC/A3 Trachylaemus purpuratus Yellow-billed Barbet LC/A3 Pogoniulus subsulphureus Yellow-throated Tinkerbird LC/A3 Psittacus erithacus Grey Parrot EN/Sch.II/A1 Sarothrura pulchra White-spotted Flufftail LC/A3 *Agelastes meleagrides White-breasted Guineafowl VU/Sch.I *Scotopelia ussheri Rufous Fishing-owl VU/Sch.I Tauraco macrorhynchus Yellow-billed Turaco LC/Sch.II/A3 *Stephanoaetus coronatus Crowned Eagle NT *Bycanistes cylindricus Brown-cheeked Hornbill VU *Ceratogymna elata Yellow-casqued Hornbill VU *Bleda eximius Green-tailed Bristlebill NT *Hylopsar cupreocauda Copper-tailed Starling NT *Illadopsis rufescens Rufous-winged Illadopsis NT Key: Threat status (classifications based on IUCN 2020): LC = Least Concern; VU = Vulnerable; EN = Endangered. IBA Criteria (definitions according to the BirdLife International 2020): species are protected/qualify as Important Bird Area protected species under these criteria; A1 . Globally threatened species . The site is known or thought regularly to hold significant numbers of a globally threatened species. Note: The site qualifies if it is known, estimated or thought to hold 15 a population of a species categorized by the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. A3. Biome-restricted species ( species under this category are restricted to Guinea-Congo Forest biome ). The site is known or thought to hold a significant component of the group of species whose distributions are largely or wholly confined to one biome. Note: This category applies to groups of species with largely shared distributions which occur mostly or wholly within all or part of a particular biome and are, therefore, of global importance.

4. DISCUSSION OF AVIFAUNA DATA 4.1 Avian diversity, abundance and composition

This ABC funding allowed us to cover 15% (50km 2) of the total area of Sui Forest. This zone forms the critical habitat of the Giant Squeaker Frog as it holds the only known viable population for the species on earth. Our survey provides a partial avifaunal species list for the Sui Forest.

The total number of birds recorded for this study compares well with the 80 species previously (23 years ago) recorded by Ntiamoa-Baidu et al . (2000a) for the Sui Forest. In this study of 28 forests in the south-west of Ghana, total species recorded from each ranged from 78-119. Like our study, these forest surveys were limited by short duration and thus species recorded were far from complete. Generally achieving a complete list of species in tropical forest require several years of survey effort (Ntiamoa-Baidu et al . 2000a, Owusu 2007). It is considered that more extended surveys in the Sui Forest will record more bird species.

The most abundant species including the African Green Pigeon, Green Hylia, Yellow- whiskered Greenbul, Naked-faced Barbet, Black-headed Oriole, Olive Sunbird and Little Greenbul were also the frequently encountered birds across all 28 Ghanaian forest surveyed by Ntiamoa-Baidu et al . (2000a). Some of these species, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul, Olive Sunbird and African Green Pigeon were also the most frequently heard by Dutson and Branscombe (1990) and Holbech (1995). These species are certainly the most abundant in Ghana’s high forest zone in the south-west. However, this study recorded significantly low numbers of these species. For instance, compared with Ntiamoa-Baidu et al . (2000a) (the most comprehensive survey in this zone so far), 23 years since our study, the number of records were halved by more than 60%. Also comparing our data with previous survey (e.g. see Ntiamoa- baidu et al . 2000a) in the Sui Forest, there has also been a reduction in the population of certain species (see above for list of species). For instance, 20 years ago, 39 individuals of the Forest Robin were recorded, however this current survey had only one individual sighting. Whilst the

16 survey areas within Sui River Forest Reserve were not identical, it is likely that populations of these species are dwindling in the part of Sui River Forest Reserve surveyed in 2019, probably due to the impact of logging and encroachment of farms, leading to the degradation of the forest. SAVE THE FROGS! Ghana have over the years been sustaining reforestation programmes in former farms within the Sui Forest, with the 2019 reforestation programme having been supported as part of this project (see below for accomplishments on this project). It is hoped that this work will start reversing the trend of decline in forest specialist birds as the replanted farms gradually return to mature forest.

4.2 Tackling hunting and trapping of wildlife in Sui Forest

Sui Forest still remains among the important remnant forests in Ghana. For instance, over 20 years since the previous avifauna survey in Sui Forest (e.g. see Ntiamoa-Baidu et al . 2000a), the forest still harbours some IUCN and Upper Guinea Endemic bird species such as the Grey Parrot, White-breasted Guineafowl, the Yellow-casqued and Brown-cheeked Hornbills etc. However, these species are heavily hunted and traded. For instance, the population of the Grey Parrot has fallen about 90-99% in Ghana in the last two decades (Annorbah et al . 2015). Hunting continues to remain a major challenge within the Sui Forest region.

Apart from birds, anecdotal records from our surveys revealed that other wildlife severely hunted in the area include the Vulnerable African White-bellied Pangolin ( Phataginus tricuspis ) & Black-bellied Pangolin ( Phataginus tetradactyla ), Data Deficient Pel’s Anomalure (Flying Squirrel) ( Anomalurus pelii ); Forest Hinged Tortoise ( Kinixys erosa ), Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis ) and Home’s Hinged Tortoise ( Kinixys homeana ). Also, whilst the Critically Endangered Western Chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes verus ) may have been hunted to local near-extinction, the Vulnerable Lowe's monkey ( Cercopithecus lowei ) is still hunted and traded.

We are now aware that men are mostly involved in the hunting of wildlife in the Sui Forest, however women and children are equally involved during the snail hunting season (they are likely to hunt other wildlife when searching for snails). Women are mostly involved in the preparation and retail of bushmeat. Hunters commonly employed the use of dogs, local snares, fire, guns, catapults and in some cases, bare hands to capture wildlife. The uses of wildlife from the Sui Forest include food (bushmeat), medicine, pet and trade (see Appendix 4).

Overall, the information from this survey deepens our call for Sui Forest to be re-designated as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). A KBA designation is crucial to protect the irreplaceable ecosystem for both biodiversity and local communities. We are having extensive consultations with stakeholders at both the local and national levels (especially chiefs and their traditional councils as well as NGOs and other civil-society organisations and politicians such as MPs from the region).

5. AWARENESS CREATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT We organised focus group meetings with local hunters and bushmeat traders. We designed and distributed educational materials (incl. flyers, posters & species cards) to three local schools we visited. Through PowerPoint presentations, colouring and drawing competitions we engaged school children on topics covering bird identification, threats they face and practical measures to save birds. We also organized a durbar bringing together local people and their leaders, and in attendance from the United Kingdom, were Julian Branscombe (an ABC Life Member), John Crossley and Madeline Gee. The attendance of these international volunteers was a great motivation for the local people to support wildlife conservation in and around the Sui Forest. A C

Figure 5: STF! Ghana staff and volunteers B engaging school children. A & B: Drawing

competition; C: PowerPoint presentation

C Figure 6: Engagement with

general local community. A: STFG! staff & international volunteers honoured at a community durbar; B: Traditional leaders at the durbar grounds; C: Focus group meeting involving

hunters and bushmeat traders.

5.1 Habitat Restoration As part of the broader efforts to secure Sui Forest for the Giant Squeaker Frog and co-occurring wildlife, we collaborated with Ghana’s Forestry Commission and the Sefwi-Wiawso Traditional Council to recover and restore a total of 15ha of illegal farms from five local farmers. We involved the farmers in tree planting and tending the trees once planted. We involved them and other community members to clear invasive Devil Weed ( Chromolaena odorata ) and other alien plants. As part of our evidence-based restoration initiative, we planted cowpea (a native cover crop) to suppress growth of alien invasive plants whilst fixing nitrogen into the soil to accelerate the growth of the native trees. The cowpea is also an important protein source for local people. We inter-planted 5,600 seedlings of native tree species: Black Afara (Terminalia ivorensis ), Ofram ( Terminalia superba ), Wawa ( Triplochiton scleroxylon ) and Silk-cotton Tree ( Ceiba pentandra ). Trees were raised from our community tree nurseries.

B C

Figure 7: Habitat restoration activities A: Local volunteers clearing invasive weeds for cowpea taungya; B: Local woman (employed on the project) working in the cowpea demonstration site.

6. REFERENCES

Annorbah, N.N., Collar, N.J. and Marsden, S.J. (2016). Trade and habitat change virtually eliminate the Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus from Ghana. Ibis, 158(1), pp.82-91.

Bibby, C.J., Burgess, N.D., Hill, D.A. & Mustoe, S.H. (2002). Bird census techniques. 4th ed. London: Academic Press.

Bird Conservation International (2002). Birds and the Convention on Biological Diversity: can ornithologists and bird conservationists make a difference? Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S095927090200206X

Birdlife datazone; http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/ibacriteria. Downloaded on 02 September 2019

Birdlife datazone; http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/ibacritglob Downloaded on 02 September 2019

BirdLife International (2018). Psittacus erithacus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22724813A129879439. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018- 2.RLTS.T22724813A129879439.en. Downloaded on 20 September 2019.

Blair, R.B. (1999). Birds and butterflies along an urban gradient: Surrogate taxa for assessing biodiversity? Biol Conserv. 9:164–170.

Borrow, N. & Demey R. (2010). Birds of Ghana. Christopher Helm, an imprint of A&C Black Publishers Ltd, 36 Soho Square, London WID 3QY.

Chappuis, C. (2000). African bird sounds. Eleven CDs (1,043 species) with companion booklet of 192 pages. Paris: Société d'Etudes Ornithologiques de France, with the collaboration of the British Library.

Collar, N.J., Crosby, M.J., & Stattersfield, A.J. (1994). Birds to Watch 2: the World list of threatened Birds. Birdlife International, Cambridge, UK.

Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Dowsett, R.J. (2014) The Birds of Ghana: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press.

Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Dowsett, R.J. (2014) Comments on selected forest reserves visited in SW Ghana in 2008-2010: wildlife (especially birds) and conservation status. Misc. Rep. 82.

Gardner, T.A., Barlow, J., Araujo, I.S., Avila-Pires, T.C., Bonaldo, A.B. & Costa, J.E. (2008). The cost-effectiveness of biodiversity surveys in tropical forests. Ecol Lett. 2:139–150.

Ghana Meteorological Services, 2010 Monthly average rainfall and temperature figures for 2000 – 2011

Ghana Wildlife Society (1998). Amansuri Conservation and Integrated Development Project. Project Document submitted to Netherlands Development Administration.

Holbech, L.H. 1992. Effects of selective logging on a rainforest bird community in western Ghana. Unpl. Thesis, University of Copenhagen, Denmark 73 pp.

IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2019). Arthroleptis krokosua. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T174591A137083009. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/174591/137083009 Downloaded on 02 September 2019.

Lepage, D. (2019). Checklist of the birds of Ghana. Avibase, the world bird database. Retrieved from https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=GH (18/09/2019).

Magurran, A. E. (1988). Ecological Diversity and Its Measurement. Princeton University Press.

Mittermeier, R. A., Myers, N., Mittermeier, C. G., & Robles Gil, P.(1999). Hotspots: Earth's biologically richest and most endangered terrestrial ecoregions pp.431 pp. ref.10 pp

Ntiamoa-Baidu, Y., Owusu E.H., Asamoah, S.A. & Owusu-Boateng, K. (2000a). Distribution and abundance of forest birds in Ghana. Ostrich, 71: 262-268.

Ntiamoa-Baidu, Y., Owusu E.H., Asamoah, S.A. & Owusu-Boateng, K. (2000b). Avifauna of the two upland evergreen forest reserves, the Atewa Range and Tano Offin in Ghana. Ostrich, 71: 277-281.

Ntiamoa-Baidu, Y., Owusu, E.H., Daramani, D.T & Nuoh, A.A. (2001). Ghana. In L. D. C. Fishpool and M. I. Evans, Eds. Important Bird Areas in Africa and associated islands: Prioeity sites for Conservation, pp 367-389. Newbury and Cambridge, UK: Pisces Publications and BirdLife International (Birdlife Conservation Series No. 11).

Owusu E. H. (2007). The Ornithological Importance of the Amansuri Community Nature Reserve in the Western Region of Ghana. Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 27, No. 3.

Owusu, E.H. (2001). Community-based Conservation in Ghana: the potential of the Afadjato and Agumatsa Range for ecotourism. PhD thesis submitted to the University of Kent at Canterbury, Kent UK.

Pomeroy, D. (1992). Counting Birds. AWF Technical Handbook, Series 6.

Schulze, C.H., Waltert M., Kessler P.J.A., Pitopang R., Veddeler D. & Mu¨hlenberg M. (2004). Biodiversity indicator groups of tropical land-use systems: comparing plants, birds, and insects. Ecol Appl. 14:1321–1333.

Stattersfield, A.J., Crosby, M.J., Long, A.J. and Wege, D.C. (1998). Endemic Bird Areas of the World. Priorities for biodiversity conservation. BirdLife Conservation Series 7. Cambridge: BirdLife International.

APPENDIX 1: Species listed along each transect throughout the survey, their relative abundance, encounter rate per kilometre and their IUCN Conservation status

Family Common Name Scientific name Transects Relative Encounter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 abundance rate IUCN Cuculidae African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus 4 1 3 1 0 0 3 7 1.487862 1.078932 LC Accipitridae African Gosh aw k Accipiter tachiro 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.156617 0.113572 LC Columbidae African Green Pigeon Treron calvus 4 2 85 28 0 9.318716 6.757524 LC Bucerotidae African Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus 9 4 5 15 2.584182 1.873935 LC Alcedinidae African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta 2 4 0.469851 0.340716 LC Bucerotidae Black -casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata 2 0.156617 0.113572 LC Accipitridae Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus 1 0.078309 0.056786 LC Black-and-white Shrike- Vangidae flycatcher Bias musicus 1 1 2 1 4 0.704777 0.511073 LC Campephagidae Blue Cuckooshrike Cyanograucalus azureus 1 1 1 1 0.313234 0.227144 LC Alcedinidae Blue -breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica 1 0.078309 0.056786 LC Columbidae Blue -spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer 1 5 3 1 1 0.861394 0.624645 LC Coraciidae Blue -throated Roller Eurystomus gularis 2 0.156617 0.113572 LC Pellorneidae Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens 1 0.078309 0.056786 LC Nectariniidae Buff -throated Sunbird Chalcomitra adelberti 1 1 2 1 0.391543 0.28393 LC Pycnonotidae Cameroon Sombre Greenbul Eurillas curvirostris 1 1 1 1 1 0.391543 0.28393 LC Platysteiridae Chestnut Wattle -eye Dyaphorophyia castanea 1 0.078309 0.056786 LC Estrildidae Chestnut -breasted Negrofinch Nigrita bicol or 1 0.078309 0.056786 LC Alcedinidae Chocolate -backed Kingfisher Halyc on badia 1 0.078309 0.056786 LC Nectariniidae Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris 8 2 1 9 1 25 3.602193 2.612152 LC Pycnonotidae Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus 13 5 4 2 16 3.132341 2.271437 LC Cuculidae Didric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 4 0.313234 0.227144 LC Turdidae Fin sch's Flycatcher -thrush Stizorhina finschi 1 1 0.156617 0.113572 LC Dendropicos Picidae Fire -bellied Woodpecker pyrrhogaster 2 0.156617 0.113572 LC

Muscicapidae Forest Robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax 1 0.0 /78309 0.056786 LC Macrosphenidae Green Crombec Sylvietta virens 11 1 3 4 1.487862 1.078932 LC Scotocercidae Green Hylia Hylia prasina 8 1 6 12 3 4 4 4 3.288958 2.385009 LC Macrosphenidae Grey Longbill Macrosphenus concolor 6 1 1 4 0.939702 0.681431 LC Psittacidae Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus 3 0.234926 0.170358 EN Camaroptera Cisticolidae Grey -backed Camaroptera brevicaudata 1 2 4 0.54816 0.397501 LC Estrildidae Grey -crowned Negrofinch Nigrita canicapillus 7 2 1 2 12 2 3 2 2.427565 1.760363 LC Pycnonotidae Grey -headed Bristlebill Bleda canicapillus 1 1 0.156617 0.113572 LC Lybiidae Hairy -breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta 1 1 2 2 0.469851 0.340716 LC Pycnonotidae Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator 2 1 2 1 0.469851 0.340716 LC Pycnonotidae Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus 1 2 1 1 0.391543 0.28393 LC Macrosphenidae Kemp's Longbill Macrosphenus kempi 3 1 1 0.391543 0.28393 LC Cuculidae Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas 2 1 4 1 2 0.783085 0.567859 LC Muscicapidae Lead -coloured Flycatcher Fraseria plumbea 2 1 2 1 0.469851 0.340716 LC Pycnonotidae Little Greenbul Eurillas virens 20 2 15 15 9 30 20 8.692247 6.303237 LC Muscicapidae Little Grey Flycatcher Muscicapa epulata 2 0.156617 0.113572 LC Pycnonotidae Little Grey Greenbul Eurillas virens 1 1 0.156617 0.113572 LC Accipitridae Long -tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus 1 0.078309 0.056786 LC Ploceidae Maxwell's Black Weaver Ploceus albinucha 24 5 2.270948 1.646792 LC Lybiidae Naked -faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus 7 1 5 7 5 17 2 3.445576 2.49858 LC Cisticolidae Olive -green Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota 2 0.156617 0.113572 LC Cuculidae Olive Long -tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx olivinus 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.469851 0.340716 LC Nectariniidae Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea 1 1 2 5 4 10 10 6 3.054033 2.214651 LC Monarchidae Red -bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer 1 3 3 10 9 4 12 5 3.680501 2.668938 LC Streptopelia Columbidae Red -eyed Dove semitorquata 8 4 0.939702 0.681431 LC Psittacidae Red -fronted Parrot Poicephalus gulielmi 5 5 3 12 14 3.054033 2.214651 LC Ploceidae Red -headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis 1 35 2 5 3.367267 2.441794 LC Accipitridae Red -necked Buzzard Buteo auguralis 1 0.078309 0.056786 LC Lybiidae Red -rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus 1 1 2 2 0.469851 0.340716 LC

Calyptomenidae Rufous -sided Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis 1 0.078309 0.056786 LC Pycnonotidae Slender -billed Greenbul Stelgidillas gracilirostris 2 1 1 0.313234 0.227144 LC Lybiidae Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus 7 2 5 2 12 1 17 2 3.75881 2.725724 LC Sturnidae Splendid Glossy Starling Lamprotornis splendidus 5 0.391543 0.28393 LC Columbidae Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria 1 2 3 2 2 0.783085 0.567859 LC Cisticolidae Tawny -flanked Prinia Prinia subflava 1 0.078309 0.056786 LC Dicruridae Velvet -mantled Drongo Dicrurus modestus 3 2 1 1 7 4 13 2.427565 1.760363 LC Lybiidae Vieillot's Barbet Lybius vieilloti 1 0.078309 0.056786 LC Bucerotidae West African Pied Hornbill Lophoceros semifasciatus 11 1 2 15 2.270948 1.646792 LC Pycnonotidae Western Bearded Greenbul Criniger barbatus 1 0.078309 0.056786 LC Oriolidae Western Black -headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrynchus 11 3 2 5 2 1.801096 1.306076 LC Nicatoridae Western Nicator Nicator chloris 3 0.234926 0.170358 LC Estrildidae White -brea sted Negrofinch Nigrita fusconotus 1 3 0.313234 0.227144 LC Tropicranus Bucerotidae White -crested Hornbill albocristatus 1 1 0.156617 0.113572 LC Rallidae White -spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra 1 3 5 1 0.783085 0.567859 LC Muscicapidae White -tailed Alethe Alethe diademata 1 3 2 0.469851 0.340716 LC Alcedinidae Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis 25 1.957713 1.419648 LC Cuculidae Yellowbill Ceuthmochares aereus 3 3 1 1 0.626468 0.454287 LC Lybiidae Yellow -billed Barbet Trachylaemus purpuratus 3 1 2 1 2 0.704777 0.511073 LC Musophagidae Yellow -billed Turaco Tauraco macrorhynchus 6 1 2 2 7 1.409554 1.022147 LC Camaroptera Cisticolidae Yellow -browed Camaroptera superciliaris 5 0 2 3 1 0 1 0 0.939702 0.681431 LC Ploceidae Yellow -mantled Weaver Ploceus tricolor 1 50 3.993735 2.896082 LC Lybiidae Yellow -rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus 1 1 1 4 2 0.704777 0.511073 LC Pogoniulus Lybiidae Yellow -throated Tinkerbird subsulphureus 13 3 8 15 8 5 12 2 5.168363 3.747871 LC Pycnonotidae Yellow -whiskered Greenbul Eurillas latirostris 6 5 4 9 5 9 6 3.445576 2.49858 LC

APPENDIX 2: IBA qualifying species recorded, mode of record, relative abundance, activity as at the time of record and the number of IBAs protecting the species

Common name Scientific name Mode of Activity Relative transect No. of IBAs Identification Abundance seen protecting species Criterion A1 Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus Seen/heard Flying/calling 24 Criterion A3 - Guinea-Congo Forest biome African Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus Seen/heard Flying/perched 2.6 4 21 Black-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata Seen Display flight 0.2 1 12 Blue Cuckooshrike Cyanograucalus azureus Heard Calling 0.3 4 6 Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gulari Seen Perched 0.2 1 13 Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens Heard Calling 0.1 1 21 Buff-throated Sunbird Chalcomitra adelberti Seen/heard Perched/calling 0.4 4 18 Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch Nigrita bicolor Heard Calling 0.2 1 12 Chestnut Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia castanea Heard Calling 0.1 1 24 Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia Heard Calling 0.1 1 23 Fire-bellied Woodpecker Dendropicos pyrrhogaster Seen Perched/perking 0.2 1 17 Forest Robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax Heard Calling 0.1 1 22 Green Crombec Sylvietta virens Heard Calling 1.4 4/ 17 Green Hylia Hylia prasina Heard/Seen Calling / mist 3.3 8 25 netted Grey Longbill Macrosphenus concolor Heard Calling 0.9 4 22 Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus Seen Flying 0.2 1 22 Grey-headed Bristlebill Bleda canicapillus Heard Calling 0.2 2 23 Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta Heard Calling 0.5 4 22 Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator Heard Calling 0.5 4 22 Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus Heard Calling 0.4 4 24 Kemp's Longbill Macrosphenus kempi Heard Calling 0.3 3 10

Little Greenbul Eurillas virens Heard Calling 8.7 7 24 Little Grey Flycatcher Muscicapa epulata Seen Perched 0.2 1 12 Little Grey Greenbul Eurillas gracilis Heard Calling 0.2 2 21 Long-tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus Heard Calling 0.1 1 18 Maxwell's Black Weaver Ploceus albinucha Seen Nesting 2.3 2 8 Naked-faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus Seen Nesting / perched 3.4 7 24 Olive-green Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota Heard Calling 0.2 1 4 Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx olivinus Heard Calling 0.5 3 6 Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer Seen/heard Trapped in mist 3.7 8 26 net / calling / perched Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis Seen Nesting/perched 3.4 4 21 Red-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus Heard Calling 0.5 4 23 Rufous-sided Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis Heard Display flight / 0.1 1 22 calling Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus Seen/heard Perched / calling 3.8 8 18 Western Bearded Greenbul Criniger barbatus Heard Calling 0.1 1 24 Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrhynchus Seen/heard Perched / calling 1.9 5 24 Western Nicator Nicator chloris Heard Calling 0.2 1 23 White-breasted Negrofinch Nigrita fusconota Seen Perched 0.3 2 6 White-crested Hornbill Tockus albocristatus Heard Calling 0.2 2 21 White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra Heard Calling 0.8 4 9 White-tailed Alethe Alethe diademata Seen/heard Trapped in mist 0.5 3 22 net / calling Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus Heard Calling 0.7 5 20 Yellow-billed Turaco Tauraco macrorhynchus Heard Calling 1.4 5 13 Yellow-browed Camaroptera Camaroptera superciliaris Heard Calling 0.9 5 14 Yellow-mantled Weaver Ploceus tricolor Seen Nesting 4.0 2 7 Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus Heard Calling 5.2 8 24

APPENDIX 3: Some additional photos from the survey

A B

C D

Figure 8: Evidence of hunting activities. A: Local hunter with his hunting gun; B: Local kids hunting birds with a catapult (indicated by red arrow): C: Pel’s Anomalure killed by a hunter; D: Home’s Hinge-backed Tortoise captured by a farmer.

A B

C D

Figure 9: Some birds trapped in mist nets during survey in Sui Forest A: White-tailed Alethe; B: Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher; C: Yellow-whiskered Greenbul; D: Green Hylia; E: Olive Sunbird.

APPENDIX 4: Details of Interview Surveys

To identify threatened birds that local people illegally hunt and trade, we interviewed local people using the online-offline KoBoToolbox, an open source mobile data collection tool. It is a quick means of gathering and analysing community data in the field, shifting from paper- based surveys to digital formats especially now that smartphones and tablets are cheaper and easier to deploy. We used photo-guides of local birds to aid with species identification during the interviews. The interviews also revealed information on particular species of trees that serve as food and roosting for important bird species, which we selected for our restoration programme. The data also helped us to tailor our education message towards the protection the birds that are highly hunted and traded in the Sui Forest region.

Number of respondents of Number

FigureFigure 1011 :: Reasons why peoplepeople hunthunt birdsbirds

Number of respondents of Number

Figure 12: Methods employed in hunting birds

APPENDIX 5 : Geographic coordinates for surveyed transects and mist net locations in the Sui Forest

Transect number GPS coordinates (From) GPS coordinates (To)

T1 6014’26.88”N 2 043’05.30”W 6014’03.81”N 2 041’26.23”W

T2 6014’15.53”N 2 041’48.05”W 6014’46.99”N 2 041’27.28”W

T3 6014’17.11”N 2 042’28.66”W 6015’11.24”N 2 042’51.18”W

T4 6015’32.00”N 2 042’13.69”W 6015’49.93”N 2 041’03.46”W

T5 6013’34.20”N 2 043’31.76”W 6012’44.67”N 2 043’23.22”W

T6 6012’21.89”N 2 042’17.66”W 6012’54.59”N 2 041’14.43”W

T7 6016’58.36”N 2 041’51.56”W 6017’51.65”N 2 041’30.37”W

T8 6013’47.65”N 2 042’11.18”W 6013’18.73”N 2 041’49.86”W

Mist net 1 2

6013’51.85”N 2 042’15.14”W 6013’41.71”N 2 042’37.43”W

APPENDIX 6: Project Expenses

Item/Description Budgeted Actual Difference Comments Amount Amount (£) (£)

Bird surveys 1,100 1,250 +150 There was a slight increase due to inflation. Bird-related educational 500 500 0 There were no changes. materials: flyers, posters and species info cards Tree -planting 1,000 1,000 0 There were no changes . Community (social) 0 300 +300 This was agreed as a need survey on Birds to support the bird surveys . Feasibility study 200 0 -200 Compensation 0 500 +500 Farmers who had farms in the reserve were compensated for releasing their lands for replanting Administrative 200 300 +100 There was a slight increase due to inflation. Total 3,000 3,850