The Upper Guinea heritage : nature conservation in Liberia and Sierra Leone

The two neighbouring countries, Libera and Sierra Leone, are situated in the heart of the Upper Guinea forest region. This region is one of the earth's most biologically diverse and was originally covered by a continuous block of dense tropical rainforest, ranging from Guinea south through Sierra Leone, and Liberia to Ivory Coast and Ghana. Much of this forest cover has already been lost and what little remains is under serious threat from commercial activities, such as logging, mineral mining and the subsistence activities of an ever growing population. Civil conflicts are also taking their toll. The status of nature in the two countries is depicted using case studies and pictures.