Analavelona NPA (6587)
Madagascar, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2014

National site name: NAP Analavelona

Central coordinates: Latitude: -22.6690, Longitude: 44.1630

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 900 to 1321

Area of KBA (km²): 47.69018

Protected area coverage (%): 84.74

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Analavelona Forest is located west-north-west of Sakaraha. It lies on a vast peneplain oriented north–south, with indented flanks, steep slopes and steep-sided valleys. Springs in the forest feed rivers such as the Fiherenana, which flows in the south-east. Variations in soil composition, altitude and topography have engendered a diverse vegetation, with well-stratified, dense, humid evergreen forest in the lowlands (rich in lianas), dense sclerophyllous montane forest (with an open understorey) on the slopes, plateau and some peaks, and xerophilous bushland on rocky outcrops. The forest is characterized by the presence of tall trees, such as Uapaca and Dalbergia. Strangler-figs are abundant, and Dracaena and Aloe also occur. Grassland covers the open areas and sides of the massif.

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) 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. The following KBA trigger species occur at this site but are not yet available in WBDB, either because they have only been globally Red-List-assessed recently (in 2012-2013; global Red List category is given in brackets, where triggering the Vulnerability KBA criterion) or because they have not yet been globally Red-List-assessed (most of these taxa are nevertheless listed as valid in Catalogue of Life or Tropicos); many of the latter species may prove to be globally threatened, or are already listed as regionally or nationally threatened, and nearly all of the following species are also likely to be endemic to the Hotspot, often with very restricted known ranges, thus also triggering the Irreplaceability 1 KBA criterion: PLANTAE: Andrachne gracilipes; Erasanthe henrici.

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Sixty-one species are known from this site, of which 29 are endemic to Madagascar. The humid nature of the forest explains the presence of three species characteristic of the East Malagasy biome: Neomixis viridis, Foudia omissa and Phyllastrephus zosterops. The abundance of Phyllastrephus apperti is also interesting: this species is only found elsewhere in the Zombitse complex (IBA MG065), 50 km to the south-east. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemur: Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi (VU). Carnivore: Cryptoprocta ferox (VU).

Habitats

Land use: agriculture | hunting

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Forest	100

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Neighbouring people use the forest for livestock-grazing, collection of honey, collection of medicinal plants, and poaching (notably of lemurs). These activities are mitigated somewhat by the difficulty of access and the presence of cattle-thieves.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting	Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Persecution/control	Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Trend Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing

Additional information