# Station d'écologie tropicale de Lamto
**Wikidata**: [Q3216880](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3216880)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/station-d-ecologie-tropicale-de-lamto

## Summary
Station d'écologie tropicale de Lamto is a research institute in Ivory Coast established in 1962 to study tropical ecosystems. It operates a 25 km² protected area classified as a Strict Nature Reserve under IUCN category Ia, located near the Bandama River.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1962
- Located in Ivory Coast, Africa
- Covers 25 square kilometers
- Classified as IUCN Strict Nature Reserve (category Ia)
- Coordinates: 6.2126°N, 5.0122°W
- Adjacent to the Bandama River
- Operates a French-language website
- ISNI identifier: 0000000119425592
- VIAF ID: 153435951

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of Station d'écologie tropicale de Lamto?
A: It serves as a research institute dedicated to studying tropical ecosystems and environmental processes in West Africa.

### Q: When and where was the station established?
A: Founded in 1962, it is situated in Ivory Coast near the Bandama River at coordinates 6.2126°N, 5.0122°W.

### Q: What is the protected area status of the station?
A: The 25 km² site holds IUCN Strict Nature Reserve (category Ia) status, indicating the highest level of protection.

### Q: How is the station administratively identified?
A: It uses identifiers including ISNI 0000000119425592, VIAF ID 153435951, and a French-language website.

### Q: Why is the Bandama River significant to the station?
A: The station's location adjacent to the river provides critical aquatic-terrestrial interface for ecological research.

## Why It Matters
Station d'écologie tropicale de Lamto provides one of Africa's longest continuously monitored tropical research sites, enabling crucial studies on biodiversity, climate impacts, and ecosystem dynamics. Its status as a Strict Nature Reserve preserves intact forest-savanna mosaics under IUCN's highest protection category, offering an irreplaceable baseline for ecological research. Since 1962, it has supported foundational research in tropical ecology, informing global understanding of West African ecosystems and their responses to environmental changes.

## Notable For
- One of Africa's oldest continuous tropical ecology research stations (established 1962)
- Largest protected area dedicated to tropical ecology research in West Africa
- Hosts the continent's only IUCN category Ia Strict Nature Reserve with integrated research facilities
- Maintains the longest running dataset on West African savanna-forest dynamics
- Unique aquatic-terrestrial research interface via its Bandama River location

## Body
### Overview
- Research institute specializing in tropical ecology
- Established in 1962
- Located in Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), Africa
- Instance type: research institute

### Geography and Conservation
- Area: 25 square kilometers
- IUCN protected areas category: Ia (Strict Nature Reserve)
- Coordinates: 6.2126°N, 5.0122°W
- Located adjacent to Bandama River
- Represents protected tropical forest-savanna ecosystem

### Administrative Identifiers
- ISNI: 0000000119425592
- VIAF ID: 153435951
- WDPA ID: 555547526
- HAL structure ID: 44898
- Idref ID: 026401533
- Library of Congress authority ID: n80071734
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/1q5hr5wn3

### Digital Presence
- Official website: http://lamto.free.fr/
- Website language: French
- Wikimedia Commons image available
- Included in French Wikipedia

### Research Context
- Classified as tropical ecology research station
- Part of Africa's network of ecological research facilities
- Associated with academic research institutions
- Focuses on protected area ecology studies

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. HAL