Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The site lies on the west coast of Madagascar, and consists of the mangrove located south-east of the town of Tambohorano, a portion of the adjacent coastal area, an offshore island (Nosy Vao), and Lakes Mandrozo and Manapape, located respectively 35 km west and 15 km south-east of the town. Lake Manapape (also called Andranovoribe) lies near the village of Andranovao. The mangrove extends south to the mouth of the Manambaho river and north to the north of Tambohorano. It is relatively dense, dominated by
Avicennia, and is surrounded by vast coastal mudflats. The lakes are natural, with clear water. Lake Mandrozo is 2–3 m deep, while Lake Manapape is shallower. Seasonal marshes develop on the periphery of Lake Mandrozo when it floods. There are several islets in this lake, the largest of which is in the middle. Marginal vegetation at Lake Manapape includes abundant
Cyperus, as well as
Mimosa pudica and floating expanses of water-lily
Nymphaea and water-hyacinth
Eichhornia. Lake Manapape has very good fish-stocks. Both lakes are surrounded by savanna with palms
Hyphaene. Nosy Vao is covered in savanna with some palms
Hyphaene in the central part of the island; offshore there are coral reefs.
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Eighty-two species are known from the site, of which 20 are endemic to Madagascar. A relatively large number of
Anas bernieri breed in the Tambohorano mangroves, representing perhaps 10% of the world population. Large and significant numbers of terns (Sterninae) roost on the reefs off Nosy Vao at low tide; most or all seem to be only passing through, before the breeding season.
Non-bird biodiversity: Lemur: Propithecus verreauxi deckeni (VU).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Most of the communities neighbouring the lakes live by net-fishing, hunting of aquatic birds and rice-growing, which activities represent threats. In addition, the spread of non-native aquatic plants (
Eichhornia and
Mimosa pudica) threatens to reduce the importance of the site for birds. However, various taboos constitute a partial protection for the site. Fishermen visit Nosy Vao between August and November to fish for sharks, but do not represent a threat to birds.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Tambohorano Wetland NPA (Madagascar). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/tambohorano-wetland-npa-iba-madagascar on 23/12/2024.
