Satellite view of the Mandara Plateau (bottom center), on the border of Cameroon and Nigeria Photograph by USGS   Africa: Cameroon, Nigeria Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands   2,900 square miles (7,500 square kilometers) -- about the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined Critical/Endangered

· Diversity on the Plateau
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Diversity on the Plateau

The Mandara Plateau is one of the most environmentally, agriculturally, and ethnically diverse areas in West Africa. With volcanic mountains in the background, these forests harbor a great diversity of species, from large mammals to small lizards. Very little of the region is formally protected however, and grazing and frequent burning are among the major threats. This ecoregion is called a mosaic because of the great diversity of habitat types, including forests and savannas, that occur in a patchwork along the rivers and mountains.

Special Features

This ecoregion occurs along the border between northeastern Nigeria and northwestern Cameroon. During the six-month rainy season from May to October, between 31 and 39 inches (800 ö 1,000 mm) of rain fall. Average temperatures range between 60 and 85° F (15 - 30° C). More than half of the ecoregion is covered by trees, which reach heights of 40 to 60 feet (12 - 18 m). Hardy grasses such as Andropogon and Beckeropsis can be found on the ground. However, the ecoregion is, on the whole, heavily grazed and burnt. The highest points from 4,260 to 4720 feet (1,300 ö 1,442 m) hold a mix of plant species, such as the large succulent Euphorbia desmondi, as well as black ironwood, and kassuur (or cheese-wood).

	When threatened, the mountain reedbuck lets out an alarm call like a loud, high-pitched whistle.

Wild Side

High in the mountains, a population of the mountain reedbuck, considered endangered in Cameroon and Nigeria, is still surviving. The reedbuck prefers the cool and dry mountainous regions. Down in the "saddle," a valley between two ridges of the mountain range, are Mozogo Gokro National Park and the Mayo Louti Forest Reserve. Both harbor important populations of antelope and other large mammals. Three endemic reptile species can be found here as well: the Mount Lefo chameleon, the African wall gecko, and a lizard, Mabuya langheldi.

Cause for Concern

Throughout Cameroon, the major threat to biodiversity is the clearing of both lowland and montane forests. Grazing and burning are also extensive. Illegal hunting, primarily for bushmeat, is also on the rise throughout West Africa, including Cameroon. This endangers important mammal populations, including those in protected areas.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.