MG056
Onive Classified Forest


Site description (2001 baseline):

Site location and context
The site is located 18 km south-east of Tsinjoarivo. Its rugged terrain of high, rounded hills is furrowed by narrow valleys. The Onive river flows through the southern part of the site. The mid-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forest has a canopy 10–15 m high, dominated by trees of Deinbollia, Dombeya, Ocotea, Tambourissa, Nuxia and Weinmannia.

Key biodiversity
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Seventy-one species are known from the site, of which 44 are endemic to Madagascar. The bird community is characteristic of mid-altitude humid forest.

Non-bird biodiversity: Lemurs: Eulemur rubriventer (VU), Varecia variegata variegata (EN), Propithecus diadema diadema (EN). Carnivores: Fossa fossana (VU), Cryptoprocta ferox (VU).



Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Slash-and-burn cultivation on the hill-slopes is progressing towards the centre of the site and threatens the forest. Other threats include cattle-grazing and the selective felling of trees for construction or for use in fermenting alcoholic beverages. In addition, gold-exploration activities are polluting the Onive river.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Onive Classified Forest (Madagascar). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/onive-classified-forest-iba-madagascar on 23/11/2024.