Vondrozo Classified Forest NPA (6603)
Madagascar, Africa

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2014

National site name: NAP Forêt Classée de Vondrozo

Central coordinates: Latitude: -22.7210, Longitude: 47.2060

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 570 to 650

Area of KBA (km²): 362.92332

Protected area coverage (%): 99.30

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Vondrozo Classified Forest is located about 5 km west of Vondrozo. The forest is part of the still-continuous corridor between Andringitra (IBA MG080) and Midongy-South (MG084), and is generally of lowland forest. The terrain is fairly flat and uniform with some low hills. The site is drained by small, permanent tributaries of the Manapatrana river in the north and by tributaries of the Mananara in the south. The low-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forest is nearly intact, with a canopy 15–20 m high, dominated by species of Dalbergia, Ocotea, Weinmannia, Uapaca, Canarium, Eugenia and Diospyros. The understorey is not dense and allows easy access to the forest interior, except near the marshes.

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.

Additional biodiversity: See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Eighty-five species are known from the site, of which 50 are endemic to Madagascar. Rand (1936) mentions a record of Oriolia bernieri from a site in south-eastern Madagascar with this name; it is not clear if this is the site intended. Non-bird biodiversity: Lemur: Propithecus diadema edwardsi (EN). Reptile: Boa manditra (VU).

Habitats

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

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Wetlands(Inland)	33
Forest	67

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Bird-hunting and the collection of wild honey pose relatively minor threats. Forest to the north and south of the site is under pressure for cultivation.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Biological resource use	Gathering terrestrial plants	Persecution/control	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest]	Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Trend Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Energy production & mining	Mining & quarrying		Ongoing
Transportation & service corridors	Roads & railroads		Ongoing
Natural system modifications	Other ecosystem modifications		Ongoing

Additional information