Ambatovaky Special Reserve (6564)
Madagascar, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Réserve Spéciale d'Ambatovaky
Central coordinates: Latitude: -16.7330, Longitude: 49.2410
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 300 to 1200
Area of KBA (km2): 248.65653
Protected area coverage (%): 87.81
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Ambatovaky Special Reserve is located about 50 km west of the coastal town of Soanierana-Ivongo. Many streams drain eastwards through the site and create innumerable small valleys and ridges between occasional steep-sloped, sharp-peaked mountains. Two main rivers flow through the reserve, the Iampirano and the Sandrangato. The vegetation is mainly dense, low- and mid-altitude, humid evergreen forest, with sclerophyllous montane forest in the higher areas.
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. Ninety-two species are known from the site, of which 55 are endemic to Madagascar. This is the only site known for Mesitornis variegata in the East Malagasy biome, and it is possible that this population is a separate taxon. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Eulemur rubriventer (VU), Varecia variegata variegata (EN), Indri indri (EN), Propithecus diadema diadema (EN), Daubentonia madagascariensis (EN). Carnivores: Fossa fossana (VU), Cryptoprocta ferox (VU). Butterflies: Papilio mangoura (VU), Amauris nossima (VU).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 1 | |
| Forest | 97 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Slash-and-burn cultivation (especially in the lowland eastern sector), widespread cattle-grazing and poaching are severe threats to the site. Over-collection of medicinal plants and wild honey is also a risk.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Evans (1991), Nicoll and Langrand (1989), Raxworthy and Colston (1992), Thompson and Evans (1991, 1992).