Sihanaka Forest (6572)
Madagascar, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Forêt de Sihanaka

Central coordinates: Latitude: -18.4167, Longitude: 48.7500

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 450 to 1300

Area of KBA (km²): 4252.26686

Protected area coverage (%): 74.72

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This vast site is located 48 km north-east of Ambatondrazaka, in the forest corridor between Mantadia and Zahamena National Parks (IBAs MG054 and MG047). Within the site are four Classified Forests: Iofa, Didy, Andriantantely and Sandranantitra. Andriantantely is covered in low-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forest, while the other three are mid-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forest.The terrain is undulating, with mid-altitude mountainous massifs. The main rivers flowing through the site are the Namolazana, Ivondro, Vokovoko, Taheza and Rianila.

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. Eighty-two species are known from the site, of which 53 are endemic to Madagascar. This site, especially the forest around Didy and Rogez, was much frequented by the first ornithological explorers of Madagascar, in the 1800s. Recent inventories show that it still holds most of the species previously recorded. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Indri indri (EN), Propithecus diadema diadema (EN), Eulemur rubriventer (VU), Varecia variegata variegata (EN), Daubentonia madagascariensis (EN). Bat: Myzopoda aurita (VU). Carnivores: Cryptoprocta ferox (VU), Fossa fossana (VU). Reptiles: Boa manditra (VU), B. madagascariensis (VU). Butterfly: Papilio mangoura (VU).

Habitats

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

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats include slash-and-burn cultivation, illegal exploitation of precious wood, and hunting of lemurs (especially of Indri indri in Didy). Sandranantitra is the most affected area.

Additional information