UNESCO/Toson-Khulstai Biosphere Reserve
Odzala
General information
The Odzala Biosphere Reserve comprises an undulating plateau with the Blue Water Lake Moba and many natural saltpans.
Detailed information
Key data
Year of nomination
1977
Country
Congo
Total population
45000
Area
Surface
1,294,900.00 ha
Total terresterial area
1,294,900.00 ha
Location
Latitiude: 0.916613 - Longitude: 14.945
Contact
Ecological Characteristics
Located in the north-west of the Republic of Congo and about 30 km east of the Gabon border, the Odzala Biosphere Reserve comprises an undulating plateau with the Blue Water Lake Moba and many natural saltpans.Odzalais characterized by a rich variety of habitats, including primary rain forest with a closed canopy (e.g. with Entandrophragma utile, E. candollei and E. cylindricum) and open understorey layer, forests dominated by dense formations of Marantaceae, forest clearings and savannas on the hilltops (e.g. with Hymenocardia acida, Annona arenaria or Hyparrhenia diplandra).Typical forest fauna includes leopard (Panthera pardus) the lion (P. leo), the spottedhyena (Crocuta crocuta), elephant (Loxodonta africana), the dwarf buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) and the great forest hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni).
Socio-Economics Characteristics
The biosphere reserve, which is also designated as national park, is not populated. However, three different ethnic groups (Mboko, Bakota and Mongombo) live contiguous to the area. Their main activities are traditional subsistence agriculture (manioc, corn), horticulture (bananas, sugar cane, etc.) and limited livestock raising.