Identifying pangolin priority areas in Ghana
Despite the known threats, pangolin conservation is still hampered by the scarcity of vital information to properly plan conservation actions.
Forest habitats for African pangolins
The Guinean Forest Biodiversity Hotspot (GFBH) is a critical forest habitat, covering eleven countries in Central and West Africa, including Ghana. Three species of pangolin are found in the GFBH: Endangered giant and white-bellied pangolins, and Vulnerable black-bellied pangolins. All three are threatened by ongoing habitat loss from deforestation, as well as unsustainable illegal exploitation for meat and medical products locally and globally.
Addressing gaps in our knowledge
Despite these known threats, pangolin conservation is still hampered by the scarcity of vital information to properly plan conservation actions. With the support of PTES, Veronica Dandzo-Adzagudu from Threatened Species Conservation Alliance (THRESCOAL) is working to address these critical knowledge gaps within the GFBH including Ghana.
She’s combining existing pangolin data with survey data from camera traps and local expert knowledge. This is helping her identify pangolin hotspots in Ghana and across the GFBH. Veronica is also looking at how the distribution of pangolins across Ghana is likely to change with climate change in the future.
The results will contribute to the soon-to-be published West African Action Plan for Pangolin Conservation and help improve the long-term survival of pangolins in Ghana and the GFBH.
We want to give pangolins in Ghana a brighter future; with your help we can make a difference.
Image credits Prince Pascal Agro