Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Tsaratanana, located south of Ambanja, is the highest mountain range in Madagascar, with the peak of Maromokotro rising to 2,876 m. It is of volcanic origin, being composed of granite and migmatite. The headwaters of the Ramena, Sambirano and Mahavavy rivers lie within the reserve. Mid-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forest, characterized by an abundance of trees 10–12 m high, lianas and palms, covers the area up to 2,000 m. Dense bamboo forest, forming a belt, characterizes the area located between 2,000 and 2,200 m. Sclerophyllous montane forest is found between 2,200 and 2,600 m and grassy savanna occurs above 2,600 m (of human origin, having replaced the original montane bushland following repeated burning and livestock-grazing).
See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Ninety-four species are known from the site, of which 56 are endemic.
Tyto soumagnei was found at an altitude of 2,000 m, the highest known for this species. This is also the northern limit known for
Eutriorchis astur. Many species occur at higher altitudes here than elsewhere in their ranges. The subspecies
Saxicola torquata tsaratananensis is limited to this site.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The forest in the massif is nearly intact, both within the reserve and in neighbouring areas. Threats to the site include cattle-grazing, cutting of certain tree species for their bark (used for flavouring alcoholic beverages), and cannabis cultivation in the Ramena valley.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Tsaratanana Strict Nature Reserve and extension (Madagascar). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/tsaratanana-strict-nature-reserve-and-extension-iba-madagascar on 23/12/2024.
