Mikea (6585)
Madagascar, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1e, B2
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Mikea
Central coordinates: Latitude: -22.3090, Longitude: 43.4160
System: freshwater, marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 10 to 200
Area of KBA (km2): 2926.11465
Protected area coverage (%): 64.82
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This site is located on an undulating littoral plain, west of the Morombe–Toliara road. It is delimited in the east by the foothills of the Mikoboka-South calcareous plateau. The soil is sandy, with dunes in some areas. Lake Andranobe is semi-permanent. The native vegetation of xerophilous bushland (up to 12 m high) is dominated by Didierea, Euphorbia, Aloe, Adansonia, Albizia, Tamarindus and Givotia. The bushland in the northern area is very degraded near Lake Ihotry and is bisected by a belt of savanna in the west. Towards the coast, the vegetation is lower and bushier, and, in the central area, there is dry deciduous forest, similar in structure to the forest north of Mangoky.
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. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.
Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Ninety-eight species are known from the site, of which 40 are endemic to Madagascar. Monias benschi and Uratelornis chimaera do not occur in any other IBAs. Monias benschi is found mainly in the densest bushland, and Uratelornis chimaera in the most open bushland. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Lemur catta (VU), Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi (VU). Reptiles: Geochelone radiata (VU), Pyxis arachnoides (VU), Phelsuma standingi (VU), Boa dumerili (VU).
Delineation rationale: Proposed National Park.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | forestry
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Savanna | 41 | |
| Forest | 38 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Human activities are threatening the site—the exploitation of wood for charcoal production and construction is causing significant damage to the bushland and forest. Cattle-grazing (in particular near the lake), slash-and-burn cultivation (especially in the central area) and bush-fires also have a negative impact on the vegetation.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Trend Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Appert (1966, 1968a, b, c, 1970, 1972, 1985), Domergue (1986), Hartert (1912), Lavauden and Poisson (1929), Nicoll and Langrand (1989), Salmon (1984), Turner (1981), Rand (1936), Seddon (2001).