Makira - Fondation pour les Aires Protégées et la Biodiversité de Madagascar

Manager

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

Surface area

372,470 ha

Geographic location

Provinces of Antsiranana, Mahajanga and Toamasina; Regions of Analanjirofo, Sava and Sofia; Districts of Andapa, Antalaha, Befandriana North, Mandritsara and Maroantsetra

International label

Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), Important Bird Area (IBA), Priority Area for Plant Conservation (PAPC), Zero Extinction Alliance (ZEA) site

Flagship Species

The Makira Natural Park, by virtue of its geographical position, ensures the connectivity of Eastern Madagascar rain forests to the sub-humid forests of Northern Madagascar. It is very rich in specific diversity of fauna and flora, and the rate of endemism is one of the highest in Madagascar. The Makira Natural Park is home to the largest block of intact lowland and medium altitude moist evergreen forests in Madagascar.

There are 2 lemurs whose geographical distribution is restricted to this part of the island (Marojejy – Makira – Masoala): Propithecus candidus and Varecia rubra.

Primates

17 species

2 locally endemic, 1 critically endangered and the other endangered; 3 other species critically endangered (among which Indri indri - Babakoto), 4 endangered (among which the nocturnal Aye-aye lemur) and 7 vulnerable

Birds

112 species

5 endangered (among which the Madagascar snake or “Firasabe” and the Malagasy grebe) and 8 vulnerable (among which the Madagascar glareola)

Reptiles

60 species

3 local endemics among which 1 chameleon species endangered; 1 other chameleon species of genus Brookesia endangered and 4 other reptile species vulnerable

Amphibians

68 species

5 locally endemic, 2 of which are classified as vulnerable; 2 species classified as endangered and 3 as vulnerable

Carnivorans

7 species

5 are classified as vulnerable, including the fosa and the Malagasy civet

Bats

10 species

2 vulnerable, namely the Madagascar flying fox

Other mammals

24 species

3 vulnerable

Plants

720 species

591 endemic to Madagascar (83%) among which 2 species are classified as endangered and 3 as vulnerable
16 local endemics (2%) including 3 critically endangered, 3 endangered and 1 vulnerable palm species, and 3 other flora species endangered

Landscapes and habitats

Lowland moist evergreen forest, medium altitude moist evergreen forest, crater, dense network of rivers and waterfalls.
Particularity : Existence of several sacred sites related to the request for blessing "fomba" and places of "joro" rituals.

Pressures and Threats

Wildlife hunting and poaching, small-scale mining, temporary camps, human intrusion with permanent camps, slash-and-burn agriculture, illegal logging, collection of non-timber forest products, bush fires, lack of a formal land tenure system, poor law enforcement, invasive species.

Economic value

The park is a large reservoir of water for the region: irrigation water for the crop perimeters and drinking water in the numerous water bodies.

Local communities'initiatives

Makira Natural Park covers 5 Districts. The green belt, a subject of management transfers to local associations, is currently effective. The park manager, WCS, is working closely with these associations for the preservation of the park's forest cover and for the implementation of development activities (tourism, cash crop farming). The patrols working with WCS agents come from these local communities.

Category