Mitsio National Park (6526)
Madagascar, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2014

National site name: Parc National de Mitsio

Central coordinates: Latitude: -12.8980, Longitude: 48.5920

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 206

Area of KBA (km²): 298.78285

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The site is located 50 km north-east of Nosy Be and 30 km off the western Malagasy coast. Nosy Mitsio, located in the centre of the archipelago, is the largest island, being c.12 km long and up to 3 km wide. One peak rises to 206 m in the northern area and another rises to 130 m in the centre. Surrounding islets include, in the north, Nosy Ankarea and Nosy Lava, and in the south, Nosy Antaly, Nosy Tsitampevina, Nosy Tsarabanjina, Nosy Toloho, and the ‘Quatre Frères’ islets. The Quatre Frères (Nosy Beangovo, Nosy Betalinjona, Nosy Antsoha and Nosy Betanihazo) are rocky contiguous domes, respectively 63 m, 76 m, 51 m and 88 m high. They are partly covered by savanna, especially on the summits. Nosy Lava is an elongated reef, 3.5 km long and 1.5 km wide, and covered by vegetation. It rises to 160 m. A beach, which floods at high tide, stretches along the northern part of this island. Nosy Toloho is covered by dense dry forest (up to 12–14 m high).

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas) 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.

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Table 3 for key species. Ten species are known from the site, of which one is endemic to Madagascar. The site is home to three breeding pairs of Haliaeetus vociferoides (on the Quatre Frères, Nosy Toloho and Nosy Lava). The Quatre Frères are also home to colonies of Fregata ariel and F. minor—the only site known in Madagascar where Fregata species breed—including c.50–100 pairs nesting on one of the islets. Some five pairs of Phaethon lepturus and 300–500 breeding individuals of Sula leucogaster have also been observed—the latter species has increased significantly since the 1970s. A pair of Falco peregrinus has been recorded on one of the islands. Non-bird biodiversity: Sirenian: Dugong dugon (VU).

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | energy production and mining | fisheries/aquaculture | not utilised | tourism/recreation

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	5
Marine Intertidal	5
Savanna	5
Marine Neritic	85

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Neighbouring human populations fish in the marine area. The Quatre Frères are protected by their cliffs, which drop vertically into the sea and make access difficult. Most of the nests, especially of Sula leucogaster, are located on the cliffs.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	Persecution/control	Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing

Additional information