Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Bidia Classified Forest lies c.30 km north-east of Andilamena. The site is a network of mountains, peaking at Bidia (1,200 m), which is part of the Marovoalavo plateau. The hydrological network is dense and dominated by the Befiaka, Vakoanina and Bidia rivers. The primary vegetation is composed of mid-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forest (frequently 25–30 m high), dominated by trees of
Weinmannia,
Dalbergia,
Canarium and
Eugenia. There are also secondary formations of traveller’s palm
Ravenala and fallow areas dominated by
Solanum and
Harungana.
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Sixty-two species are known from the site, of which 33 are endemic to Madagascar. Species characteristic of both low- and mid-altitudes occur. Species of global conservation concern include
Tachybaptus pelzelnii,
Atelornis pittoides,
Dromaeocercus brunneus,
Randia pseudozosterops and
Pseudobias wardi.
Non-bird biodiversity: 1>Lemurs: Varecia variegata variegata (EN), Indri indri (EN), Propithecus diadema diadema (EN). Carnivore: Cryptoprocta ferox (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 such as kotofy (an aphrodisiac) and
Centella asiatica, and fires.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bidia Classified Forest (Madagascar). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bidia-classified-forest-iba-madagascar on 24/12/2024.