Tsingy de Namoroka National Park (6551)
Madagascar, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Parc National du Tsingy de Namoroka
Central coordinates: Latitude: -16.4680, Longitude: 45.3400
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 71 to 227
Area of KBA (km2): 220.70208
Protected area coverage (%): 95.60
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Namoroka Tsingy Strict Nature Reserve lies 55 km south of Soalala. Most of the site comprises a raised karst plateau, divided by gorges and limited on all sides by 30-m-high cliffs, similar to the Bemaraha Tsingy, 250 km to the south. There are four small permanent rivers, the Ambatofolaka, Mandevy, Andriabe and Ambararata, as well as various temporary streams. Permanent and temporary pools are located in the caves and caverns within the karst. During the dry season, the plateau is an important hydrological reservoir for the surrounding area. Dense, dry semi-deciduous forest covers c.50% of the reserve, especially in the gorges and on the periphery of the plateau. The karst plateau itself is covered by xerophilous bushland, dominated by Euphorbia, Pachypodium and baobabs Adansonia. The plateau is surrounded by slightly undulating ground, mainly covered by savanna (with palms Bismarckia) which is highly degraded due to annual burning for pasture. Gallery forests line the rivers flowing through the savanna, with screw-pines Pandanus prominent.
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. Sixty-three species are known from the site, of which 28 are endemic to Madagascar. Philepitta schlegeli is quite common, while Alectroenas madagascariensis, a species normally confined to the East Malagasy biome, can be found on rare occasions. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Phaner furcifer pallescens (VU), Propithecus 1>verreauxi deckeni (VU). Carnivore: Cryptoprocta ferox (VU). Reptiles: Boa madagascariensis (VU), Brookesia bonsi (endemic to the site).
Delineation rationale: Included in the Protected Area Baly Bay Complexe
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Grassland | 1 | |
| Savanna | 2 | |
| Marine Neritic | 44 | |
| Forest | 47 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The burning of pastures, bush-fires, illegal exploitation for construction wood, collection of medicinal plants, fishing and poaching together pose severe threats to the site.
Additional information
References: Andriamampianina and Peyrieras (1972), Hawkins (1994e), Jenkins (1987), Nicoll and Langrand (1989), Rand (1936), Reid and Hawkins (1993), Thalmann and Rakotoarison (1994).