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.
Key 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.
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.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Analavelona NPA. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 31/03/2023.
