Data Zone
The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1999 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:| Species | Red List | Season (year/s of estimate) | Size | IBA criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madagascar Pochard Aythya innotata | CR | resident (1991) | present | A1, A2, A3 |
| Meller's Duck Anas melleri | EN | resident (1993–1994) | 150 birds | A1, A2, A3, A4i |
| Madagascar Grebe Tachybaptus pelzelnii | EN | resident (1993–1994) | 1 birds | A1 |
| Alaotra Grebe Tachybaptus rufolavatus | EX | resident (1985) | rare | A1, A2, A3 |
| Madagascar Rail Rallus madagascariensis | VU | resident (1993–1994) | 12 birds | A2, A3 |
| Malagasy Pond Heron Ardeola idae | EN | non-breeding (1993–1994) | 7 birds | A1 |
| Madagascar Heron Ardea humbloti | EN | resident (1993–1994) | 8 birds | A1 |
| Madagascar Snipe Gallinago macrodactyla | VU | resident (1993–1994) | 37 birds | A2, A3 |
| Malagasy Harrier Circus macrosceles | EN | resident (1993–1994) | 4 birds | A1 |
Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1999. The most recent assessment (2017) is shown below.
| IBA conservation assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2017 | very poor | high | high |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| no | habitat | medium | |
| State (condition of the trigger species' habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat | Quantity (% remaining) | Quality (% carrying capacity) | Result |
| Wetlands (inland) | moderate (70–90%) | moderate (70–90%) | poor |
| Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Agricultural expansion and intensification | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Pollution | happening now | most of population/area (50–90%) | slow decline (1–10% over 3 generations) | high |
| Biological resource use | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate decline (10–30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Planning | Action | Result |
| Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation | A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species | The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented | high |
| Year | Protected Area | Designation (management category) | % coverage of IBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Le Lac Alaotra: les zones humides et basin | Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance (V) | 100 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | major (>10) | Freshwater lakes and pools; Permanent herbaceous swamps and bogs; Rivers & streams |
| Land use | % of IBA |
|---|---|
| agriculture | - |
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Alaotra NPA (Madagascar). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-alaotra-npa-iba-madagascar on 25/12/2024.