Data Zone
Country/territory: Madagascar
IBA criteria met: A1, A2, A3, A4i (1999)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 35,470 hectares (354.70 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2017 | very poor | high | low |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2001 baseline)
Lakes Ankerika, Antsamaka, Soamalipo and Befotaka form the wetlands of the Manambolomaty complex, 35 km south-west of Antsalova, and are surrounded by the Tsimembo Forest. Lake Ankerika is located in the commune of Trangahy, and the three others in the commune of Masoarivo. Lakes Soamalipo and Befotaka are linked. The lakes lie on alluvial soils and most are freshwater and permanent, with a depth of 3–6 m depending on the season. Lake Antsamaka is brackish and 3 m deep during the rainy season, but may completely dry up at the end of the dry season. Aquatic vegetation at this lake includes water-lilies Nymphaea and rushes Juncus. In the southern part of the lakes, an area of 98 ha has been converted to seasonal marshes and rice-fields. Tsimembo Forest is bounded by the Manambolomaty river in the south and by the Beboka river in the north, and consists of dense, dry deciduous forest. Dominant canopy trees include Dalbergia, Stereospermum, Givotia, Xylia, Cordyla, Hildegardia, Delonix and Diospyros. The mid-stratum is dominated by species of Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Leguminosae. On patches of much sandier soil (old sand-dunes), the forest canopy is lower and there are fewer emergents. The part of the Tsimembo Forest that surrounds Lake Antsamaka is called Ankotrofotsy Forest.
Key biodiversity
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Ninety-three species are known from the site, of which 29 are endemic to Madagascar. The site holds 10 pairs of Haliaeetus vociferoides, representing c.10% of the world population. There is an islet which is a roosting and nesting site for herons (Ardeidae) such as Ardea humbloti, and for Anas bernieri.
Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Phaner furcifer pallescens (VU), Hapalemur griseus occidentalis (VU), Propithecus verreauxi deckeni (VU). Carnivore: Cryptoprocta ferox (VU). Reptile: Erymnochelys madagascariensis (EN).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Manambolomaty wetland complex and Tsimembo Classified Forest (Madagascar). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/manambolomaty-wetland-complex-and-tsimembo-classified-forest-iba-madagascar on 23/12/2024.