Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park and Strict Nature Reserve (6558)
Madagascar, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1e
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Parc National et Réserve Naturelle Intégrale du Tsingy de Bemaraha
Central coordinates: Latitude: -18.6580, Longitude: 44.7660
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 150 to 838
Area of KBA (km2): 1566.26811
Protected area coverage (%): 98.47
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Bemaraha Tsingy National Park and Strict Nature Reserve are located 60–80 km inland of the west coast of Madagascar. They are delimited to the south by the Manambolo river, to the east by a cliff, to the west by savanna, and to the north by the Soahany river. The western part of the site comprises a raised, heavily eroded karst plateau (Bemaraha Tsingy), with elongate sink-holes and deep canyons. Several permanent rivers and some seasonal streams flow out of the karst into the Soahany and Manambolo rivers. The vegetation is dense, dry deciduous forest, although, where the soil is humid, the forest has been degraded and, in the sink-holes and canyons, the forest is more evergreen, with trees higher than 12 m on average and a thick layer of leaf-litter. The non-forested part of the site, away from the karst, is savanna, with gallery forest lining the more permanent watercourses.
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. Ninety-six species are known from the site, of which 39 are endemic to Madagascar. Populations of Canirallus and Monticola at the site probably represent distinct species, restricted to the reserve. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Mirza coquereli (VU), Phaner furcifer pallescens (VU), Hapalemur griseus occidentalis (VU), Avahi occidentalis (VU), Propithecus verreauxi deckeni (VU). Carnivore: Cryptoprocta ferox (VU).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 2 | |
| Savanna | 47 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Forest | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There are areas of slash-and-burn cultivation in the Tsiandro sector and, in the south, the contact zone between the forest and the savanna has been converted to pasture. Exploitation for wood has had a very evident impact on the forest, especially along the oil-industry road and within the reserve. Other threats include hunting of lemurs, collection of forest plants for food and medicine, widespread cattle-grazing, and collection of fauna for trade.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Andriamampianina and Peyrieras (1972), Bousquet and Rabetaliana (1992), Jenkins (1987), Leandri (1938), Nicoll and Langrand (1989), Rakotoarison et al. (1993), Ramanitra (1995a, 1997), Ramanitra et al. (1993), Rand (1936), Thalmann and Rakotoarison (1994).