Many African Important Bird Areas, such as Mount Mbam forest, Cameroon, have no legal recognition or protection and increasing evidence suggests that these are in danger of losing their key biodiversity. Mount Mbam is a bastion for many species of global conservation concern, including the Endangered and endemic Bannerman’s Turaco, for which it is an important site. This work is to produce full assessment of the conservation status and needs of birds and their habitats at the Mount Mbam forest.

It will be implemented through the generation of quantitative population abundance, species diversity and distribution data for the avifauna, characterisation of habitats, and identification of threats to the conservation of birds of Mount Mbam forest and associated habitats and propose solutions. It also aims to engage with locals in the project area and stakeholders, through conservation education and awareness workshops, in order to lay down baselines for development of a management plan and conservation strategy for site based on the above results.

Research results will also contribute to the IBA monitoring database developed by BirdLife International as well as the update of Cameroon’s National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (NBSAP) and the global biodiversity conservation priority areas; they will be transferred to national authorities and the local communities for effective management of the site, through a reinforcement of the activities of the Site Support Groups (SSGs) that aim to integrate biodiversity conservation and community development.

Locals and hunters will be made aware of the threats the avifauna and associated habitats are facing, and educated on the conservation needs. However, recommendations drawn from this work will be instrumental to the authorities on which basis they can make an informed decision on whether to designate the site as a Protected Area (community forest), a Bird-viewing or an eco-touristic site, which may help to protect the entire ecosystem and hence ensure the maintenance of ecosystem equilibrium.