Data Zone
Country/territory: Madagascar
IBA criteria met: A2, A3, A4i (1999)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 3,000 hectares (30.00 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2017 | poor | very high | medium |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2001 baseline)
The site lies on the eastern littoral, and is flat with sandy soil. It includes the freshwater Lake Sahaka—part of which, Lake Gendarme (120 ha) 0> is a Hunting Reserve—as well as the neighbouring wetlands Ampanasina-North, Ampanasina-Centre, Ampanasina-South, Ampasirabe, Doanihely and Doanibe. Lake Sahaka is fed by the Antsahampano river and many springs, and flows into the Manambato river. There is a large variety of habitats, including clearwater lakes, expanses of water-lilies (Nymphaeaceae), marshes with reedbeds of Phragmites, seasonal lakes, savanna with palms Bismarckia and baobabs (Bombacaceae), and a block of littoral forest. Part of the lake surface has been invaded by non-native water-hyacinth Eichhornia. The lake has good fish stocks and is a refuge for waterbirds.
Key biodiversity
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Fifty-two species are known from the site, of which 14 are endemic to Madagascar. The location of the site between the East and West Malagasy biomes explains the presence of western species such as Actophilornis albinucha, Falculea palliata, Ploceus sakalava, and of one species specific to eastern wetlands (Anas melleri). The African species Ardea goliath, which is very rare in Madagascar, has been observed at the site. Species of global conservation concern include Ardeola idae.
Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Eulemur coronatus (VU), E. fulvus sanfordi (VU). Reptiles: Boa madagascariensis (VU), B. manditra (VU).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Sahaka - Analabe NPA and extension (Madagascar). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-sahaka--analabe-npa-and-extension-iba-madagascar on 23/12/2024.