Bright Obeng Kankam (PhD)

Position: Senior Research Scientist
Head: Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Faculty of Arts, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary 2500 University Dr. N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4    
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Mobile: +233 244519480 / +233 201180080
Professional fields of Interest: My current research projects include studies of: Primate ecology, Animal behavior, Mining effect on wildlife, Ecosystem management, Wildlife monitoring and Conservation, Wildlife Ecology and Habitat restoration.

Professional Background:

• 2010: Ph.D. Anthropology (specialization: Primatology) - University of Calgary, Canada,
• 2002: M.Phil. Wildlife and Range Management - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana,
• 1997: B.Sc. Natural Resources Management - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana,

Research Projects

• 2019-2022: Wildlife monitoring programme: assessment of wildlife presence, adaptation and wild bird mortality in Akyem mine. AGREEMENT # MA-02348-2019. Amount: GHC 910,353.75 (approx. C$ 275,864.77). Role: Principal Investigator
• 2016-2019: Akyem Wildlife Monitoring Program -2016. Submitted to Newmont Golden Mining Company-Akyem, Ghana. AGREEMENT # MA-01452-2016. Amount: GHC 1,205,250.87 (approx. C$ 365,227.53). Role: Principal Investigator
• 2017: Vegetation & soil erodibility monitoring of reclaimed sites, Ahafo Gold Operations. Submitted to Newmont Ghana Gold Limited-Ahafo, Ghana. AGREEMENT # MA-03090-2017. Amount: GHC 209,475.00 (approx. C$ 63,477.27).  Role: Investigator for wildlife survey
• 2017: Re-writing of Wildlife Monitoring Plan (Newmont Golden Ridge Limited). Submitted to Newmont Golden Mining Company-Akyem, Ghana. AGREEMENT # MA-03404-2017. Amount: GHC 79,606.00 (approx. C$ 24,123.03). Role: Principal Investigator
• 2015: Monitoring of Wildlife Presence and Adaptation at the Akyem Mine, Ghana -2015. Submitted to Newmont Golden Mining Company-Akyem, Ghana. AGREEMENT # MA-01655-2015. Amount: GHC 207,355.75 (approx. C$ 62,834.84). Role: Principal Investigator
• 2014: Reforestation Action Plan for Newmont. Funded by Newmont Golden Mining Company-Akyem, Ghana. AGREEMENT # MA-040-2014. Amount: GHC 57,960.00 (approx. C$ 17,563.64). Role: Principal Investigator
• 2014: Biodiversity survey: 60 ha Plantation plot Off Mamang River Forest Reserve. Funded by Newmont Golden Mining Company-Akyem, Ghana. AGREEMENT # MA-00910-2014. Amount: GHC 86,940.00(approx. C$ 26,345,45), Role: Principal Investigator
• 2013: Wildlife Monitoring: Reducing Entrapment and Road-kills During Mineral Extraction Stage at the Ajenjua Bepo Forest Reserve. Funded by Newmont Golden Mining Company-Akyem, Ghana. AGREEMENT # MA-825-2013. Amount: GHC 135,675.75. (approx. C$ 41,113.86), Role: Principal Investigator 
• 2012: Akyem Gold Mining project at Ajenjua Bepo Forest Reserve: Wildlife Survey, Capture and Translocation of Key Wildlife Species (during the Forest Clearance phase). Funded by Newmont Golden Mining Company-Akyem, Ghana. AGREEMENT # GHA-AKY-11-105 (extension). Amount: GHC 91,413.00. (approx. C$ 27,700.90), Role: Principal Investigator
• 2011: Akyem Gold Mining project at Ajenjua Bepo Forest Reserve: Wildlife Survey, Capture and Translocation of Key Wildlife Species (prior to Forest Clearance phase). Funded by Newmont Golden Mining Company-Akyem, Ghana. AGREEMENT # GHA-AKY-11-105. Amount: GHC 209,770.00. (approx. C$ 63,566.67), Role: Principal Investigator

Selected Publications

• Ofori-Boateng, C., A.D. Leaché, B. Obeng-Kankam, A. Hillers (2018). A new species of puddle frog, genus Phrynobatrachus (Amphibia: Anura: Phrynobatrachidae) from Ghana. Zootaxa 4374: 565–578.
• Kankam, B. O., Saj,T. L. and Sicotte, P.  (2013). Short-term variation in forest dynamics: Increase in tree density in Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Ghana. Ghana Journal of Forestry 29: 19-33.
• Kankam, B.O. and Sicotte, P. (2013). The effect of forest fragment characteristics on abundance of Colobus vellerosus in the forest-savanna transition zone of Ghana. Folia Primatologica 84:74-86. DOI: 10.1159/000348307 
• Kankam, B. O. and Oduro, W. (2012). The effect of frugivory on postdispersal seed removal and germination in the pantropical forest tree Antiaris toxicaria Leschenault. African Journal of Ecology 50: 21–28. 
• Kankam, B. O., Saj, T. and Sicotte, P. (2010). How to measure “success” in community-based conservation projects: The case of the Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary in Ghana. In: Puplampu, K. P. and Tettey W. J. (eds.), The public sphere and the politics of survival in Ghana. Woeli Publishing Services, Pp. 115-141. ISBN 978-9988-626-28-0
• Kankam, B. O. and Oduro, W. (2009). Frugivores and fruit removal of Antiaris toxicaria (Moraceae) at Bia Biosphere Reserve, Ghana. Journal of Tropical Ecology 25:1- 4.
• Beier, P., Drielen, M. and Kankam, B.O. (2002). Avifauna collapse in West African forest fragments. Conservation Biology 16: 1097-1111. 

Conference papers

• Siaw, D.E.K.A., Daniel, O., Kankam, B.O., Peprah, T. and Cobbinah, J.R. (2004). Exploration, germplasm collection and survey of indigenous knowledge on Allanblackia floribunda in southern Ghana. Submitted to International Council for Research in Agroforestry (I.C.R.A.F).
• Oduro, W. and Kankam, B.O. (2002). Environmental and public health hazards of traditional grasscutter (Thryronmys swinderianus) hunting In: Atta-Agyepong and Weidinger (Eds), Promoting Grasscutter production for poverty reduction in Ghana.  Paper presented at the National Workshop for the Production of Grasscuter in Sunyani, Brong-Ahafo Region from 16th – 18th October 2002. Pp 19-22.
• Taylor, D.A.R., Kankam, B.O. and Wagner, M.R.  (2000). The role of fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, in seed dispersal, survival, and germination Milicia excelsa, a threatened West African hardwood, In: Cobbinah and Wagner (Eds) Research Advances in restoration of Iroko as a commercial species in West Africa. Paper presented at the International Workshop 15-16 November, 2000. FORIG, Kumasi, Ghana. Pp. 29-39.
• Cobbinah, J.R. and Kankam, B.O. (2000). Rearing of the Giant African Snail for food. Actesdu séminaire International Sur l'Elevage Intensif de Gibier à But Alimentaire en Afrtique; Libreville 23-24 Mai. Pp 89-97.
  
  

Journal Papers

• Badiella-Giménez, N., Kankam, B. O. and Badiella, L. (2021). Influence of Visitors on Time Budget, Ranging and Strata Use of Lowe's Monkey (Cercopithecus lowei) at Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Ghana. Zoological Studies, 60:51. doi:10.6620/ZS.2021.60-51 https://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/60/60-51.html
• Boahen, F. A., Kankam, B. O., Quartey, J. K., and Attuquayefio, D. K. (2021). Altitudinal variation in small mammal distribution on Mountain Afadjato. Science and Development, 4(2):1-10.
• Amankwah, A. A., Quaye-Ballard, J. A., Koomson, B., Amankwah, R. K., Awotwi, A., Kankam, B. O., Opuni-Frimpong, N. Y., Baah, D. S., Adu-Bredu, S.(2021). Deforestation in forest-savannah transition zone of Ghana: Boabeng-Fiema monkey sanctuary. Global Ecology and Conservation, 25, (2012) e01440  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01440
• Kankam, B.O. and Abukari, H. (2020). Predicting residents' intention to conserve the hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) in the Birem North District, Ghana. Heliyon 6. doi :https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04966
• Ofori-Boateng, C., Leaché, A. D., Kankam, B. O., A. Hillers, A. (2018). A new species of puddle frog, genus Phrynobatrachus (Amphibia: Anura: Phrynobatrachidae) from Ghana. Zootaxa, 4374: 565–578.

Awards/Fellowships

2017: Best Scientist in mobilization of funds through project proposals to FORIG 
2018: Best Scientist in mobilization of funds through project proposals to FORIG
1999: UNESCO/MAB Young Scientist Award Winner

Affiliations

African Primatological Society