It consists of a series of protected areas: the Gola Rainforest National Park (with three sections: North, Central, and South) and the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary (a small river island of approx. 12 km² in the Moa River).
Location: Southeast Sierra Leone, part of the Upper Guinean Forest – one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots with intact tropical rainforest (very low deforestation).
Biodiversity: The area is home to:
More than 1,000 plant species (113 endemic).
55 mammal species (19 endangered), including the western chimpanzee (high density), African forest elephant, pygmy hippopotamus, several monkey species and pangolins.
Up to 448 bird species, including the rare white-necked rockfowl.
Many fish species, butterflies, and dragonflies.
Reason for World Heritage status (criteria ix and x): exceptional ecological processes in a humid tropical forest and crucial for the conservation of endangered species.
The complex is important for nature conservation, ecotourism (especially Tiwai Island), and research.
It survived the civil war and other threats thanks to local and international efforts.
In short: one of the last large areas of intact rainforest in West Africa with exceptional richness in plants and animals.
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