Onive Classified Forest (6577)
Madagascar, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B2
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Forêt Classée d'Onive
Central coordinates: Latitude: -19.4700, Longitude: 47.9310
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1300 to 1500
Area of KBA (km2): 769.72252
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site is located 18 km south-east of Tsinjoarivo. Its rugged terrain of high, rounded hills is furrowed by narrow valleys. The Onive river flows through the southern part of the site. The mid-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forest has a canopy 10–15 m high, dominated by trees of Deinbollia, Dombeya, Ocotea, Tambourissa, Nuxia and Weinmannia.
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. Seventy-one species are known from the site, of which 44 are endemic to Madagascar. The bird community is characteristic of mid-altitude humid forest. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Eulemur rubriventer (VU), Varecia variegata variegata (EN), Propithecus diadema diadema (EN). Carnivores: Fossa fossana (VU), Cryptoprocta ferox (VU).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | water management
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Slash-and-burn cultivation on the hill-slopes is progressing towards the centre of the site and threatens the forest. Other threats include cattle-grazing and the selective felling of trees for construction or for use in fermenting alcoholic beverages. In addition, gold-exploration activities are polluting the Onive river.
Additional information
References: Delacour (1930), Projet COEFOR/CI SRF-DEF (1993), Rainiberiaka and Tida (1996), Ratsimba Arimino (1998).