Saving the Gola rainforest

Gola map: The Gola forest is 75,000 hectares and is close to the Liberian border. It is part of the Upper Guinea forest - less than 30% remains because of widespread forest clearance which began in the 1700s for agriculture, charcoal mining and timber. It will become a national park to prevent logging and protect endangered mammals, birds and plants Photograph: RSPB/PR

A west African chimpanzee female and baby. Chimps are among the 50 mammal species that will be protected by the Gola forest project Photograph: Cyril Ruoso/Getty

The Gola forest is home to leopards whose population is in decline due to degredation of its habitat and prey Photograph: Duncan Willetts/Allstar

There are estimated to be at least 600 species of butterflies in the Gola forest, 80% of the known species for the whole of Sierra Leone Photograph: RSPB/PR

There are 14 bird species in the Gola forest now close to extinction including the Rufous fishing owl, the Gola malimbe and the white-breasted guineafowl. This double-spurred francolin, however, is a common species found in fallow farmland areas Photograph: RSPB/PR

An African forest elephant and calf. There are 56 mammal species in the Gola forest, 13 of which are threatened with extinction Photograph: Martin Harvey/Corbis

Gola rainforest, community meeting. The project is engaged with communities in funding a development scheme of their choosing such as reconstructing schools and community halls destroyed during the war Photograph: RSPB/PR

Gola community music group. The project works with local groups to get conservation messages across using music and other innovative communication Photograph: RSPB/PR

The village weaver is found throughout the African tropics Photograph: RSPB/PR

Gola rainforest, a white-headed lapwing Photograph: RSPB/PR

The white-necked picathartes is found only in rainforest in five west African countries. There are fewer than 2,500 pairs left. In Sierra Leone, poor breeding success has been linked with human distrubance. Populations near urban areas are threatened by the conversion of land to agriculture. It is classified by he IUCN World Conservation Union, as vulnerable, or facing high risk of extinction in the wild Photograph: RSPB/PR

An olive sunbird, a common bird found in forests across Africa Photograph: RSPB/PR

A team of the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone and the Government Forestry Division rest by a tree after a long trek. The Gola project is an important collaboration between local NGOs and the government. Photograph: RSPB/PR