New tree species found during Liberia tree surveys

Posted on February 1st 2011 by Amy Hinsley

A new species of tree has been found in the forests of Liberia’s Sapo National Park. The large forest tree, which is thought to be a second species of Apodiscus, was discovered during Global Trees Campaign supported surveys in December 2010.

Tree surveys were conducted in Liberia’s coastal rainforest and former national forests, in particular the southeast coastal region of Liberia in and around the Cestos-Sehnkwehn proposed protected area, Sapo National Park and, in the west of the country, in Kpelle National Forest.

In addition to the new tree in Sapo, new plant species were also found in other areas. In the proposed protected area of Cestos-Sehnkwehn a previously unknown species of Jollydora (a genus not known west of Nigeria), a new Draceana species and a possible new wild Coffea species were all found. In addition, information was gathered about several local endemic trees, including Tetraberlinia tubmanniana.

Photographs and specimens from 400 plant species, including over 200 species of tree were collected, which will feed into a new Tree Atlas of Liberia currently being produced by Dr. A.G. Voorhoeve of the Burke Museum, University of Washington.