Kirindy Mite National Park and extension (6582)
Madagascar, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Parc National de Kirindy Mite et extension
Central coordinates: Latitude: -21.0680, Longitude: 44.0110
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 30
Area of KBA (km2): 3086.29927
Protected area coverage (%): 52.39
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: 1>This site consists of two forests, Kirindy-South Forest and Mite Forest, which are located respectively close to, and 17 km from, Marofihitse. The forests are situated in the Menabe region, a coastal plain of mainly sandy soils. The Kirindy river flows across the south of Kirindy Forest, while the Lampaolo river runs through Mite Forest. The dense, dry deciduous forest is dominated by trees of Adansonia, Cedrelopsis, Commiphora, Givotia, Delonix, Baudouinia, Dalbergia, Strychnos and Tamarindus. Bushes of Didierea and Euphorbia occur near the coast. There are also vast saltflats on the coast.
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. Several bird species characteristic of dry forest occur, as do several characteristic of spiny forest. Good numbers of Phoenicopterus ruber and Anas bernieri occur seasonally on the coastal saltflats. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Lemur catta (VU), Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi (VU). Carnivore: Mungotictis decemlineata (VU; probably M. d. lineata).
Delineation rationale: 2008-02 (Leanne Miller): the 1999 IBA Kirindy-South Forest Complex was divided across two KBAs: Kirindy-South Forest and Kirindy Mitea National Park. 2016-02-17 (BL Secretariat): The 2006 CI KBAs of Kirindy-South Forest (SitRecID 22462) and Kirindy Mitea National Park (SitRecID 22463) have been merged to form a single KBA, matching the original 1999 IBA (SitRecID 6582), during the process of compiling the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands Hotspot (2014).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Kirindy-South is a National Park of 72,200 ha, of which under half is forested. Threats include clearance of forest for agriculture (notably in the east of the national park and peripheral areas of Mite Forest), poaching of birds, and illegal exploitation of wood (especially Givotia) for the construction of traditional pirogues.
Additional information
References: Appert (1996), Commission Nationale Malgache pour l’UNESCO (1998), Hawkins (1994, 1996), Hawkins et al. (1993), Langrand (1987), ORGASYS (1996), Werding (1972).