African green broadbill (Pseudocalyptomena graueri)

Species information

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Threats

The African green broadbill inhabits a volatile area, much of which is threatened by deforestation and habitat degradation (5). Forests in the Itombwe Mountains and surrounding Mount Kahuzi are under increasing pressure from rapidly rising human populations; an influx of Rwandan refugees in 1994 and rebel soldiers from 1997 resulted in widespread forest clearance for agriculture and hunting (5) (6). The year 2000 also saw a rush for the valuable industrial mineral coltan, which attracted more than 10,000 miners to the Kahuz-Biéga National Park in which Mount Kahuzi lies, and led to drastic deforestation and poaching (6).

Conservation

The African green broadbill occurs in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which, unlike the Kahuz-Biéga National Park, is well protected. The third location in which the broadbill is found, the Itombwe Mountains, is not protected and faces many threats (5). Surveys are required to determine the distribution and status of the African green broadbill (5), but at present, the situation is too dangerous in the region to conduct any research (6).

Shell International, The Shell Foundation and The University of Queensland have been working with a number of natural World Heritage sites through UNESCO's "Enhancing Our Heritage" programme.