Ambavanankarana wetland (6530)
Madagascar, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: D1a

Year of last assessment: 2014

National site name: Zone humide d'Ambavanankarana

Central coordinates: Latitude: -13.2080, Longitude: 48.8180

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 5 to 10

Area of KBA (km²): 514.4172

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This site consists of a strip of mangrove located along the western coast and stretching over 90 km between Antsatsaka (25 km north of Ambanja) in the south, and Bobasakoa (45 km north-west of Ambilobe) in the north. Ambaro Bay lies off its southern part. Ampasinantenina (Port Saint Louis) peninsula divides the site into two parts, where the city of Antsohimbondrona is directly linked to Ambilobe by a tar road 30 km long. In addition to the mangrove, this site includes mudflats (1 km wide at low tide), lakes and saltmarshes. The main rivers in the area, the Bobasakoa, Andranomandevy, Mananjeba, Mahavavy, Itasy and Ambazoana, flow from north to south into the Mozambique Channel. Several of them (some nutrient-poor) rise from the underground waters of the Ankarana massif. The mangrove woodland is mainly composed of Avicennia and Rhizophora trees (5–10 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.

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Forty-eight species are known from the site, of which seven are endemic to Madagascar. The site supports the largest congregations of Dromas ardeola and Sterna saundersi known in Madagascar.

Delineation rationale: Type 2 marine IBA: non-breeding (coastal) congregations.

Habitats

Land use: forestry

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: This mangrove woodland is threatened by intensive cutting in some areas, and breeding-bird colonies are affected by the collection of eggs and young birds.

Additional information