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Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Bezavona Classified Forest is located 60 km north-west of Andilamena, at the extreme western limit of Madagascar’s eastern forests. The site comprises a chain of mountains, with peaks at Bezavona (1,050 m) and Berangompanihy (1,080 m), Bezavona being part of the Marovoalavo plateau. The hydrological network is dense and dominated by the Antsahaberoy river in the east and in the south, and by the Manantsatrana and Fatakanina rivers in the east. The main vegetation is low- and mid-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forest with a closed canopy (20–30 m high), dominated by trees of
Oncostemum,
Canarium, Sapotaceae and Erythroxylaceae, as well as by dry-forest species such as
Capurodendron perrieri and
Erythroxylum amplifolium. Tree-ferns
Cyathea, palms and bamboo-lianas are abundant in the understorey. Secondary vegetation is dominated by traveller’s palm
Ravenala madagascariensis.
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Seventy-nine species are known from the site, of which 51 are endemic to Madagascar, including 11 members of the vanga (Vangidae) family.
Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Eulemur rubriventer (VU), Varecia variegata variegata (EN), Indri indri (EN). Carnivore: Fossa fossana (VU).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Threats to the site include forest clearance, which has already affected 5–10% of the forest area, wood-cutting, commercial collection of medicinal plants, fires, and the hunting of lemurs and birds.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bezavona Classified Forest (Madagascar). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bezavona-classified-forest-iba-madagascar on 23/12/2024.
