Subri River Forest Reserve

Subri River Forest Reserve is a large moist evergreen forest reserve in the Wassa East District of Ghana's Western Region. The Key Biodiversity Areas database describes it as the largest forest reserve in the country, and it is a confirmed Key Biodiversity Area, last assessed in 2015, with full protected area coverage. It was gazetted in 1950 and is managed under the Takoradi Forest District.

The reserve lies roughly 16 km south of the railway line linking Huni Valley and Twifo Praso and about 21 km from Daboase, close to the Pra-Sushien Reserve. It forms part of the watershed between the Bonsa and Pra rivers and is crossed by tributaries of both, which produces extensive swampy vegetation. Terrain is generally undulating at 60–125 m, with steep-sided hills reaching 300 m in the northern, south-eastern and central parts. The Wassa East District assembly places the reserve within the district's predominantly tropical rainforest vegetation, with the Subri and Whini rivers as tributaries of the Pra.

For a visitor, the reserve's interest is chiefly ecological rather than recreational. Its moist evergreen forest, with wet evergreen forest reported in some parts, supports non-bird species including bongo, leopard and African golden cat. About 5,120 ha have been designated a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area, and roughly 12,372 ha have been converted to plantation. Parts of the reserve were salvage-felled between 1966 and 1976 and selectively logged from 1978. Ghana's arboreta include one at Subri, though an FAO report citing Peprah (1999) records that road construction through the reserve partly destroyed it.

The reserve has featured in national forest restoration work: it hosted a high-level stakeholder engagement under the Ghana Forest Restoration Grant Scheme, a European Union initiative with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission under the nationwide "Tree for Life" campaign, and the Western Regional Co-ordinating Council describes it as continuing to serve as a model for innovative forest restoration practices. Illegal mining incursions have also been reported, including arrests by the Forestry Commission in a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area of the reserve.

Practical planning information is limited. The swampy ground is described as making access difficult even in the dry season, and no visitor facilities, opening hours, fees or guided activities are documented in the available sources. Local people hold rights to collect deadwood for firewood, and there is evidence of some gold mining. Anyone considering a visit should treat access arrangements as unconfirmed and verify current conditions and permissions with the Forestry Commission before travelling.