Montagne d'Ambre National Park and Special Reserve (6524)
Madagascar, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Parc National et Réserve Spéciale de la Montagne d'Ambre
Central coordinates: Latitude: -12.5820, Longitude: 49.1600
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 850 to 1475
Area of KBA (km2): 346.51859
Protected area coverage (%): 83.51
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site, a massif of volcanic origin, lies c.20 km south-west of Antsiranana. It comprises a 30-km-long string of basalt peaks, oriented north–south, with steep-sided valleys. Many rivers rise on the massif, the main ones being the Sahinana, Saharenana and Andranomandevy. There are also a number of lakes: Petit Lac, Grand Lac, Lac Maudit and Lac Texier. The north-eastern part of the site is covered by extensive low- and mid-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forests, dominated by trees of Chrysophyllum, Canarium, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Leguminosae, while the western part is covered in dense, dry deciduous forest. In between these two areas, there are transition forests.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Eighty-three species are known from the site, of which 41 are endemic to Madagascar. The level of local avian endemism is significant: Phyllastrephus zosterops fulvescens and Monticola (sharpei) erythronotus are restricted to the site (the latter being considered a separate species by some authorities). Tyto soumagnei, a species known from very few other sites, has also been recorded in the park. A pair of Haliaeetus vociferoides used to nest in the park, but no longer does so. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Phaner furcifer electromontis (VU), Eulemur coronatus (VU), E. fulvus sanfordi (VU), Lepilemur septentrionalis (VU), Daubentonia madagascariensis (EN). Carnivores: Galidia elegans dambrensis is locally endemic, Cryptoprocta ferox (VU), Eupleres goudotii (EN).
Delineation rationale: 2016-02-29 (BL Secretariat): site area has been expanded from 20030 ha (1999 IBA) to 27161 ha (2014 KBA), via the merging into this protected-area complex of the previously separate (but adjacent) 2006 KBA Montagne d'Ambre Future SAPM (6085 ha; SitRecID 22479) (following its designation as a PA).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 3 | |
| Savanna | 8 | |
| Forest | 72 | |
| Unknown | 1 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: In addition to its interest as a tourist site, the park is also important because it is the only hydrological reservoir for the entire far north of the country. Uncontrolled bush-fires are worsening soil erosion. Other threats include forest exploitation (in the southern part) and clearance (in the eastern part).
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Andreone (1994), Andriamampianina and Peyrieras (1972), Delacour (1932), Green et al. (1991), Jenkins (1987), Langrand and Lenormand (1985), Nicoll and Langrand (1989), Rand (1936), Raxworthy and Nussbaum (1994), Salomonsen (1934a).