Bushbushle National Park

Description

Bushbushle National Park is located in the Badhadhe district of the Lower Juba region in Jubaland State. The park covers an area of approximately 3,340 km2 and is part of the East African coastal forest, which stretches from riverine forests along the Juba and Shabelle rivers in southern Somalia to southern Mozambique. These forests are characterized by a mosaic of vegetation types including evergreen forest, Brachystegia woodland, scrub forest, and dry forest. Climatologically, the area experiences four distinct seasons namely; Jilal, the dry season experienced between December and March; Gu’, the main rainy season from April to June; Haga, a dry spell which stretches from June to late September; and Deyr a season of short rains from around October to mid-December. The annual average rainfall in the area is estimated between 400mm and 600mm, with the northern part being the driest area while the southern part being the wettest.

The coastal forests in this region are globally recognized for their high level of biodiversity and endemism, despite being small, fragmented, and highly threatened. The Zanzibar-Inhambane regional mosaic alone harbors 1,356 vascular plant species that are endemic. Of these, 940 species (69%) are restricted to the northern part of the mosaic, while only 149 (11%) are confined to Mozambique’s coastal line (Clarke 1998). The vegetation within the national park consists primarily of woody plants, with shrubs measuring less than 6m in height and sporadic trees growth. The canopy cover varies from dense to fairly open in different areas. Moreover, the park is predominantly covered by bushland, which is found on sand areas  occupying  a large part of the park. Common plant species in this area include Acacia tortilis and annual grasses such as Chloris and Dactyloctenium. Woodland is also prevalent in the park, with trees  reaching heights of approximately18m and either open or continuous canopy, but not interlaced. However, due to shifting cultivation practices by hunter-cultivators, many of these vegetation types have been converted into secondary bushland. Additionally, there is a mixed vegetation type in the park with trees such as Terminalia, Delonix, and Adansonia digitata (baobab), while the shrub layer consists of Combretum and Acacia species.  The park is also home toriparian forests, which grow along the banks and in the beds of the streams within the park. Common tree species in these riparian forests include  Diospyros, Garcinia, and Ficus. The riparian vegetation was reported to be in good condition with minimal soil erosion during surveys conducted in the 1970s.

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

The protected areas conceal about 916 plant species belonging to 446 genera and 110 plant families, the highest number of species are recorded for the Fabaceae (121 species), followed by the Poaceae (116), Euphorbiaceae (47) and Cyperaceae (47). Moreover, about 32 species are endemic to protected areas and adjacent flood plains of Juba Valley (Thulin 1993-2006). Six species of mangrove trees have been described in the southern coastal area of Somalia which is part of the Marine protected areas within the National Park– Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora mucronata, Sonneratia alba, and Xylocarpus granatum.

The national park and its surroundings hold 524 species of vertebrates out of these, 25 vertebrate species are highly threatened, though the most diverse mammal groups in the park are herbivores, (23 species), Carnivores (23 species)  bats (22 species), rodents (14 species) and primates (3 species). There are various globally red-listed species among the mammals that are present in the national park, these include the four highly threatened species, namely the Leopard, Panthera pardus (EN), the African Hunting Dog (Lycaon pictus, EN), the Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta Africana, EN) and Hunter’s Hartebeest or the Hirola (Beatragus hunteri, CR). Further, there are several vulnerable species such as Hamilton’s Tombat (Taphozous hamiltoni, VU), the Lion (Panthera leo, VU), the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus, VU), the Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious, VU) and the forest-restricted sub-species of Haggard’s Oribi (Ourebia ourebia haggard, VU). The National Park also supports six endangered marine species namely Dugong (Dugong dugon), Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) (VU), Olive-ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) (VU), and the Leather-backed Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) (VU). They are caught and used as traditional medicine and their fat is used to enhance the sexual libido. In addition, 293 bird species use the Bushbushle National Park and the adjacent flood plain below the Juba Valley. Among them, 93 are Euro-African migratory species, while 143 species were presumed to be resident in the National Park. Furthermore, there are 57 bird species that predominantly consist of waders and pelagic species. Globally threatened species found in the park include the Madagascar Squacco Heron (Ardeola idae) (EN), Madagascar pratincole, (Glareola ocularis) (VU), Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) (CR), White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) (CR), and the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) (EN).

Ninety (90) species  of Reptiles are presumed to be present in the national park and adjacent floodplain below the Juba River. The park supports three endemic reptiles namely Pristurus simonettai, Mabuya hildebrandti, Atractaspis engdahli as well as four endemic sub-species of reptiles: Heliobolus spekiis sextaeniatus, Agamodon anguliceps, Ancylocranium somalicum somalicum, and Brachyophis revoili revoili, in the target area. Seventy-two freshwater fishes have been reported in Somalia and the park is home to two species:  African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and Nothobranchius jubbi, in the semi-permanent water course within the National Park. The Juba River contains several endemic species such as Barbus gananenis, Varicorhinus jubae, Pardiglanis tarabinii, Synodontis geledensis and Nothobranchius patrizii, which may also enter the national park water systems during flooding. 

Criterion (ix): The Bushbushle landscape is part of the East African Coastal Forest Biodiversity Hotspot and it is a chain of relict forest stretching along the coastal area, extending from small patches of coastal riverine forest along the Juba and Shabelle rivers in southern Somalia to southern Mozambique. These coastal forests are home to a high level of endemism among their plant species and fauna and amongst the 35 global biodiversity hotspots recognized by Conservation International which identifies global biodiversity hotspots based on their high level of endemism. The landscape supports a considerable population of threatened African mammals such as the Savanna Elephant, Loxodonta africana, the African Wild Dog, Lycaon pictus, Hunter’s Antelope, Beatragus hunteri, and many near-threatened species of birds, mammals, and reptiles.

Criterion (x): The biodiversity of the coastal forests is recognized as being of global importance due to the high level of biodiversity and endemism found within the coastal forest. A total of 544 vertebrate species are in the national park and adjacent floodplains and it is a priority for conserving these last posts of pristine in southern Somalia. Amongst these species with high endemism, the Bushbushle National Park is home to globally threatened bird species including the Madagascar Squacco Heron (Ardeola idae) (EN), Madagascar pratincole, (Glareola ocularis) (VU), Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) (CR), White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) (CR), and the Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) (EN). Further research on off-shore islands may reveal sea bird breeding, Tana Cisticola (Cisticola restrictus) and Somali boubou (Laniarius erlangeri). The Bushbushle National Park harbors as well the following endanger species, including the critically endangered (CR) hirola or Hunter’s antelope (Beatragus hunter), but as well the critically endangered (CR) African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) and the endangered (EN) savanna elephant (Loxodonta Africana).

Statements of authenticity and/or integrity

The Italian colonial rulers recognized the rich and unique biodiversity and the pristine nature of the Lag Badana and Bushbushle areas and made the area a game reserve in the early 1950s when they established the Bubashi Absolute Reserve under Ordinaza no. 26 (Funaioli and Simonneta 1966). After Somalia gained independence, the government promulgated a new conservation law referred to as “The Law No. 15 of January 25, 1969, on Fauna (Hunting) and Forest Conservation”. This law changed the conservation status of the area to the BushBush Game Reserve and later was recognized as National Park. The park was gazette and had rangers, and management during the said barre government; however, after the collapse of the state, the infrastructures were also collapsed. In 2016, -18 IGAD conducted a feasibility study re-establishment of the National Park as part of a cross-border biodiversity management program and develop a road map for the operationalization of the Park.

Increased urbanization along the coastal areas will exacerbate the demand for building materials and firewood such as mangroves, charcoal bearing trees. in addition, the inland topsoil erosion and excessive nutrient load from agriculture and grazing land, oil spills from passing tankers and mismanagement of oil drilling, and solid waste of seaports close to the sites will affect the pristine habitats along the coastal areas of the National Park. Climate change will most certainly have an impact on the mangroves due to increasing temperatures, rise in sea level, and change in rainfall patterns in the region.

The site had management team and ranchers before the collapse of the state, and currently the Jubaland state is working to revive the National Park and put under the ministry of environment and climate change.

Comparison with other similar properties

The Bushbushle National Park  is part of coastal landscape which is hotspot of Biodiversity and streches up to Mozambique, an area roughly corresponding to the Swahilian regional centre of endemism that hosts a large number of unique plant species and assemblages.

Lag-Badana-Bushbushle National Park  is similar to Coastal Forests of Kenya (Arabuko Sokoke Forest and Shimba Hills National Reserve)  for the abbundance of wildlife and unique composition of flora and fauna. Italian adminstration made the area a game reserve in the early 1950s when they established the Bubashi Absolute Reserve under Ordinaza no. 26 (Funaioli and Simonneta 1966). After Somalia gained independence, the government promulgated a new conservation law referred to as “The Law No. 15 of January 25, 1969, on Fauna (Hunting) and Forest Conservation”. This law changed the conservation status of the area to the BushBush Game Reserve and later was recognized as National Park.  The Bushbushle National Park harbors as well the following endanger species, including the critically endangered (CR) hirola or Hunter’s antelope (Beatragus hunter), but as well the critically endangered (CR) African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) and the endangered (EN) savanna elephant (Loxodonta Africana).