Ankeniheny Classified Forest (6576)
Madagascar, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Forêt Classée d'Ankeniheny

Central coordinates: Latitude: -19.1667, Longitude: 48.3167

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 800 to 1100

Area of KBA (km²): 328.67821

Protected area coverage (%): 30.01

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The site lies 25 km south of Moramanga and has a perimeter of 105 km. The topography shows east–west folding. Several rivers rise in the forest, such as the Ihofika in the east and the Fanjalava and Manampotsy in the west, and many small streams flow through it. Most of the site (14,000 ha) comprises mid-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forest, dominated by trees of Syzygium, Symphonia and Canarium. The remaining area (12,500 ha) is covered by secondary woodland (dominated by Albizia), savanna, fallow and cultivated land.

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-four species are known from the site, of which 46 are endemic to Madagascar. Newtonia fanovanae is only known elsewhere from a small number of low-altitude sites, and is present here at the upper limit of its altitidinal range. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Indri indri (EN), Eulemur rubriventer (VU), Varecia variegata variegata (EN). Carnivore: Fossa fossana (VU).

Habitats

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

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: A significant portion of the forest is subject to community logging, with unknown effects on biodiversity. The forest is managed by local community organizations, which have variable control over illegal logging and hunting by outsiders. Some forest clearance occurs in the area, despite agreements to halt it.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Nomadic grazing	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants	Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Trend Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing

Additional information