Site bioculturel d’Antrema

Category

The Natural Resource Reserve of Antrema Biocultural Site, Category VI

Manager

Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN)

Surface area

20 620 ha

Geographic Location

Mahajanga Province; Boeny Region; Mitsinjo District

International label

RAMSAR site of the Biocultural site of Antrema, a Key Biodiversity Area

Flagship Species

It was a multiple-use forestry station in 2000, this biocultural site obtained its final protection status in 2015. This protected area covers a 1,000 hectare marine park, dry forests on dune and lateritic soils, several freshwater lakes and mangroves.

Dry forests on dune are only found in the deciduous dry forest ecoregion south of Morombe.

The Propithecus coronatus is the flagship species of this biocultural site.

Antrema - FAPBM

Primates

5 species

2 Critically Endangered and 1 Endangered, according to the IUCN Red List

Birds

107 species

1 critically endangered (the Madagascar eagle or “ankoay”), 5 endangered (including the Malagasy grebe) and 1 vulnerable, according to the IUCN Red List

Amphibians

5 species

Bats

3 species

1 vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, namely the Madagascar flying fox

Other mammals

5 species

Plants

140 species

106 endemic to Madagascar (76%), among which 3 are classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List

Landscapes and habitats

Dense semi-deciduous dry forests, mangrove swamps, marshes and bogs, secondary meadows and pastures, raffia swamps, lakes, herbariums.

Pressures and threats

Slash and burn agriculture in forests, bush fires in grasslands, use of mangrove wood products, wildlife exploitation; sea turtles, crabs, sea cucumbers, nesting bird eggs, invasive plants, unregulated raffia exploitation, illegal fishing and encampments.

Economic value

The PA provides the raw materials used locally for basketry, which is the main income-generating activity for women. Marine fishing represent the main sources of income for the local populations in this region.

Initiatives of the populations living around the protected area for its conservation

The local association "Antrema Miray" was set up for the collaborative management of the protected area with the manager MNHN. It should be noted that the Ampanjaka plays a very important role in the respect of the sacred character of the site by enforcing important "prohibitions" such as night fishing, lemur hunting, ..... The Ampanjaka also chairs the COGES (local management committee) of the biocultural site of Antrema. All the activities implemented within the framework of the conservation and development of the site are carried out jointly by MNHN and the Antrema Miray Association.

FAPBM's efforts in the site over the last 15 years and results

The financial support by the FAPBM of Antrema started in 2015. The total amount of grants to date is MGA 800,305,597 for the financing of conservation and development activities. Currently, the state of conservation targets and the ecological integrity of the site's natural habitats are stable and have even improved significantly since 2018 despite the presence of savannah fires and mangrove cutting. Antrema has also benefited from various funds managed by the FAPBM such as the Helmsley funds (2 phases), and FFEM funds for the promotion of ecotourism (construction of an ecolodge, tourist circuits with camping sites, ...).

Suggested articles

2 May 2022

Cheirogaleus medius in Antrema, a proof of good conservation in the protected area

Read the article

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