Bezavona Classified Forest (6566)
Madagascar, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Forêt Classée de Bezavona

Central coordinates: Latitude: -16.9500, Longitude: 48.9667

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 600 to 1100

Area of KBA (km²): 520.62449

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Bezavona Classified Forest is located 60 km north-west of Andilamena, at the extreme western limit of Madagascar’s eastern forests. The site comprises a chain of mountains, with peaks at Bezavona (1,050 m) and Berangompanihy (1,080 m), Bezavona being part of the Marovoalavo plateau. The hydrological network is dense and dominated by the Antsahaberoy river in the east and in the south, and by the Manantsatrana and Fatakanina rivers in the east. The main vegetation is low- and mid-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forest with a closed canopy (20–30 m high), dominated by trees of Oncostemum, Canarium, Sapotaceae and Erythroxylaceae, as well as by dry-forest species such as Capurodendron perrieri and Erythroxylum amplifolium. Tree-ferns Cyathea, palms and bamboo-lianas are abundant in the understorey. Secondary vegetation is dominated by traveller’s palm Ravenala madagascariensis.

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)

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Seventy-nine species are known from the site, of which 51 are endemic to Madagascar, including 11 members of the vanga (Vangidae) family. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Eulemur rubriventer (VU), Varecia variegata variegata (EN), Indri indri (EN). Carnivore: Fossa fossana (VU).

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | forestry | hunting | nature conservation and research | water management

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats to the site include forest clearance, which has already affected 5–10% of the forest area, wood-cutting, commercial collection of medicinal plants, fires, and the hunting of lemurs and birds.

Additional information