Analamerana Special Reserve (6525)
Madagascar, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: B2

Year of last assessment: 2014

National site name: Réserve Spéciale d'Analamerana

Central coordinates: Latitude: -12.7840, Longitude: 49.4960

System: freshwater, marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 10 to 608

Area of KBA (km²): 420.31469

Protected area coverage (%): 95.29

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This reserve is located 80 km south of Antsiranana. The site is limited by the steep-edged Analamera plateau in the north, by the Iloky river in the south and by small tributaries of the Anivorano river in the west. The south-eastern limit is located 1 km from the littoral. Analamera is a karstic plateau stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Ankarana plateau. Its steep cliffs rise to 400 m in the east and 359 m in the west, and overlook the Andrevo and Iloky rivers. The plateau is divided by many small streams flowing towards the Irodo river in the north. The main river is the Bobakindro, which flows across the northern area of the plateau. Analamera is an important hydrological reservoir, which feeds the flooded Irodo plain where rice-fields are located. In the valleys and well-watered areas, the vegetation is composed of western dense deciduous dry forest, with a canopy 15–20 m high.

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. KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands Hotspot (2014). Taxonomy, nomenclature and threat status follow the 2013 IUCN Red List. The following KBA trigger species occur at this site but are not yet available in WBDB, either because they have only been globally Red-List-assessed recently (in 2012-2013; global Red List category is given in brackets, where triggering the Vulnerability KBA criterion) or because they have not yet been globally Red-List-assessed (most of these taxa are nevertheless listed as valid in Catalogue of Life or Tropicos); many of the latter species may prove to be globally threatened, or are already listed as regionally or nationally threatened, and nearly all of the following species are also likely to be endemic to the Hotspot, often with very restricted known ranges, thus also triggering the Irreplaceability 1 KBA criterion: PLANTAE: Coffea saharenanensis; Eugenia analameranensis; REPTILIA: Amphiglossus intermedius; Amphiglossus stumpffi (NT).

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Fifty-seven species are known from the site, of which 27 are endemic to Madagascar. The reserve is one of the two sites known for Xenopirostris damii and one of the six sites known for Mesitornis variegata. These two species both seem to be present in reasonable numbers, but Haliaeetus vociferoides is probably only a vagrant from nearby coasts. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Eulemur coronatus (VU), E. fulvus sanfordi (VU), Lepilemur septentrionalis (VU), Propithecus diadema perrieri (CR), Daubentonia madagascariensis (EN). Reptiles: Boa manditra (VU), B. madagascariensis (VU).

Habitats

Land use: forestry | nature conservation and research | not utilised | water management

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	32
Shrubland	5
Grassland	1
Artificial - Terrestrial	5
Unknown	10
Savanna	48

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats include logging of hardwood trees for construction and use in traditional ceremonies, as well as annual burning of savanna areas within the forest.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants	Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Trend Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing

Additional information