Mapping the Paths of Giants: A GIS-Based Habitat Connectivity Model for Forest Elephant Conservation in a West African Forest Block

The long-term survival of African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) in the Bia Goaso Forest Block (BGFB) is threatened due to a lack of spatially explicit data on their movement patterns and corridors to guide conservation actions. The aim of this study is to model potential connectivity between core habitats in the BGFB. First, seven key variables influencing elephants' choice of corridors were mapped as rasters and ranked using the analytical hierarchy process. Suitability indices were then assigned to the variables based on their relative influence on corridor choice. A total resistance raster was calculated using the weighted sum method. Finally, the Linkage Mapper was used to map potential corridors between pairs of protected areas. Nine potential corridors were identified, with Euclidean distances ranging from 3.89 to 13.50 km, cost-weighted distances from 13.20 to 34.75 km and least-cost path from 4.10 to 16.23 km. The Bia Game Production-Krokosua Hills and Bia NP-Bia North corridors, with centrality scores of 19.16 Amps and 13.14 Amps, respectively, were identified as the most critical corridors in maintaining connectivity. Krokosua, Bia Tano, Ayum, Bonkoni and Bosam Bepo forest reserves, with centrality scores ranging from 36 to 69 Amps, were identified as the critical core areas for maintaining connectivity. This result provides the first comprehensive geospatial dataset on habitat connectivity in the BGFB, which will inform conservation efforts and guide the effective management of habitat corridors to restore population connectivity and support elephant conservation.