North Pangalane (6573)
Madagascar, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1b, D1a

Year of last assessment: 2014

National site name: Pangalane Nord

Central coordinates: Latitude: -18.7490, Longitude: 49.1730

System: freshwater, marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 10 to 80

Area of KBA (km²): 61.18962

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The site is located 65 km south of Toamasina and 30 km north of Ambila-Lemaitso, on the east coast of Madagascar. It comprises the stretch of the Pangalanes Canal between Ambila-Lemaitso and Tampina, as well as lakes (including Lakes Rasoabe, Rasoamasay, Loakangady and Filomo) and scattered forests. The aquatic vegetation in the canal and lakes includes Cyperus and (rarely) water-lilies Nymphaea and Najas. Islets and banks at the water-margins are covered by Typhonodorum, Carex, Cyperus, Pandanus, Fimbristylis, Melaleuca and Scirpus. On dry land, there are littoral or low-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forests, as well as plantations of Casuarina, Cocos, Eucalyptus, Raphia and Musa.

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 Table 3 for key species. Forty-five species are known from the site, of which 13 are endemic to Madagascar. In one recent visit, a few Anas melleri and a significant congregation of Glareola ocularis were noted. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemur: Daubentonia madagascariensis (EN).

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | forestry

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Slash-and-burn cultivation, as well as exploitation for construction wood and charcoal, are reducing the extent of forest. This may cause silting-up of the lakes and canal.

Additional information