Bia as protected Area
Overview about the History, General Informations and work fields of Bia -
as a Nationalpark & as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
History and Conservation
The Bia Conservation Area is named after the Bia River, located about 7 km east of the park. The park forms part of the river’s tributary system and plays an important role in protecting its watershed.
The area was first protected in 1935 as the Bia Tributaries South Forest Reserve, demarcated in 1939, and leased for timber exploitation in 1956. In the 1960s, its importance as a key primate habitat was recognized, leading to the establishment of Bia National Park (306 km²) in 1974 for primate and rainforest conservation.
In 1977, two-thirds of the park were reclassified as the Bia Resource Reserve to diversify management objectives. In 1983, the area was designated a UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Reserve, and the name Bia Conservation Areawas adopted to reflect its combined status as National Park, Resource Reserve, and Biosphere Reserve.
Location & Landscape
The Bia Conservation Area (BCA) is located in Ghana’s Western North Region along the border with Côte d’Ivoire. As a transboundary protected area, it shares wildlife corridors with the Biambarakrou, Songan, Bossematie, and Bekie Reserves in Côte d’Ivoire.
Covering 306 km², the area consists of Bia National Park (77.7 km²) in the north and the adjoining Bia Resource Reserve (227.9 km²) in the south.
BCA lies within the Bia West and Juabeso Districts and falls under the traditional authority of the Paramount Stool of the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council. Geographically, it is situated between latitudes 6°20′–6°38′ N and longitudes 2°58′–3°58′ W, bordered by the Asempanaye–Debiso road, the Bia River to the east, and the Kunkumso–Akatiso road to the west.