Hamdia Mahama Wumbeidow
The project seeks to survey the small mammal community at Bobiri Forest Reserve with a focus on rodents and shrews, embark on conservation education and sensitization activities geared towards promoting and soliciting for support to ensure the persistence of small mammals as well as protect their habitat.
Small mammals are a diverse group of animals that provide key ecological functions and services. Despite their importance in these forest ecosystems, they remain understudied and the least known mammalian group in Ghana in comparison to other vertebrates. Little research has been carried out to understand their population sizes, trends, habitat requirements and threats. According to the IUCN Red List, 16% of rodent species worldwide are listed as data-deficient compared to 7% of carnivores and 4% of even-toed ungulates. Hence, the need for more biodiversity assessments to understand this group and promote effective conservation actions. Although rodents and shrews can inhabit disturbed habitats and have been found in most studies to be abundant in disturbed areas or forests, the species abundance and richness can be affected, since most forests or landscapes are increasingly being altered or changing coupled with the impact of climate change, there is therefore the need for studies to document their sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbances.
This study will contribute to knowledge on the distribution, abundance and habitat preferences of small mammals in the Bobiri Forest Reserve a (renowned butterfly sanctuary in West Africa) where data on the small mammal fauna is virtually non-existent. This does not only undermine effective conservation efforts towards the sustainability of small mammals of the reserve, but also hinders effective ecosystem functioning and services. Locals over the period have reported the rapid disappearance of snails, mushrooms (NTFPS) and small mammals (bush meat) (once abundant) in the area. This is perhaps an indication of significant population decline or possible local extinction of the taxon, a situation demanding urgent conservation attention. The study aims at providing up to data information on the small mammal fauna of the area while creating awareness about the loss of small mammals and other biodiversity in the ecosystem. Essentially, in carrying out this survey, we hope to change perception, increase knowledge and conserve biological diversity.
Knowledge generated from this research will form a basis for key actions to protect habitats or features of conservation concern identified in the study, enforce wildlife regulations in production forests. The study will contribute data which can feed into the IUCN small mammal specialist group planning. Generally, small mammals are not valued in the Ghana with the exception of the bushmeat species, hence awareness creation and sensitization meeting with communities and school children the importance of small mammal conservation will be the focus to conserve small mammals and their habitats.