Loky Manambato - Fondation pour les Aires Protégées et la Biodiversité de Madagascar

Manager

Fanamby Association

Surface area

250,000 ha

Geographic location

Province of Antsiranana; Region of Sava; District of Vohémar

International label

Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), Area of Importance for Bird Conservation (IBA), Priority Area for Plant Conservation (PCPA), Zero Extinction Alliance (ZEA) site

Flagship Species

The protected area of Loky Manambato is a transition area between the moist evergreen forests of the East and the dry deciduous forests of the North. As a result, it is very rich in biological diversity. It is characterized by a forest block of dry deciduous forests, a large lake and mangroves. It is a real center of micro endemism in the northern part of the island.

The fauna is represented by 8 species of lemurs, 152 species of birds, 27 species of amphibians and 71 species of reptiles. The Madagascar largest scorpion can be found in this protected area.

Lemurs

8 species

1 locally endemic lemur (Propithecus tattersalli) critically endangered; 4 endangered (including the Aye-aye nocturnal lemur) and 1 vulnerable on the IUCN Red List

Birds

152 species

7 endangered (among which the Madagascar Harrier and the Malagasy Grebe) and 4 vulnerable (among which the Malagasy glareola)

Reptiles

71 species

2 are classified as critically endangered, 3 endangered (including 2 in the genus Brookesia) and 10 vulnerable

Amphibians

27 species

1 critically endangered, 1 endangered and 2 vulnerable

Carnivores

5 species

3 vulnerable, including the fosa and the Malagasy civet

Bats

10 species

3 vulnerable, including the Madagascar flying fox

Other mammals

14 species

Plants

1575 species

grouped in 181 families : 1 104 endemic to Madagascar (70%) among which 3 species critically endangered,12 endangered and 10 vulnerable
37 local endemic (3%)

Landscapes and habitats

Medium altitude moist evergreen forest, moist semideciduous rainforest, dry deciduous forest, riparian forest, rupicolous vegetation, littoral forest, swamp forest, lake, humid prairies, marshes, discontinuous mosaic of mangroves, secondary grasslands, secondary thicket, secondary forest.

Pressures and threats

Slash-and-burn agriculture, overgrazing, bush fires, overexploitation of trees and non-wood forest products, gold panning, poaching.

Economic value

Located in a region with strong economic potential, the management of the protected area of Loky Manambato has been able to take advantage of the benefits from cash crops for the local populations through the establishment of the Sahanala platform. A fishing center has also been built for maritime fishing activities. The economic spin-offs are very consequent on the local economy, especially since the site presents an undeniable tourist attraction.

Local communities'initiatives

The manager of the protected area, the Fanamby Association, works in cooperation with local communities to implement conservation (patrolling and participatory ecological monitoring) and development activities.

Do you know...?

During the crisis period on the logging of precious woods in this part of Madagascar, on their own initiative, the local populations put economic barriers on the road connecting the protected area to the large cities of Vohémar and Ambilobe. They were able to intercept trucks loaded with precious wood from the neighbouring forests.

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