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

Manager

Madagascar National Parks (MNP)

Surface Area

43,550 ha

Geographical location

Province of Fianarantsoa; Regions of Haute Matsiatra and Vatovavy Fitovinany; Districts of Ambohimahasoa, Fianarantsoa II, Ifanadiana

International label

UNESCO World Heritage Site (as an "Atsinanana Wet Forests" serial property), Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) site, Important Bird Area (IBA)

Flagship Species

Ranomafana National Park is part of the Atsinanana Rainforests serial World Heritage Site. It is covered with natural vegetation of low and middle altitude dense rainforest, bamboo forest, and swampy areas. There is a forest corridor between Ranomafana National Park and Andringitra National Park.

Research on lemurs is continuing there thanks to the ValBio Center, a research center dedicated to primates and their natural habitats. Flora is made up of many species of woody plants and over 80 species of orchids.

Lemurs

14 species

1 locally endemic and vulnerable, 4 critically endangered (i.e : Varecia variegata, Hapalemur aureus, Prolemur simus), 3 endangered (including the nocturnal lemur Aye-aye) and 5 vulnerable

Birds

124 species

5 endangered (including the Madagascar snake eagle or Firasabe, the Madagascar harrier, the Malagasy grebe) and 10 vulnerable (including the Malagasy pratincole)

Reptiles

51 species

2 local endemics, 2 chameleon species endangered and 6 other reptiles species vulnerable

Amphibians

94 species

11 locally endemic of which 7 endangered and 3 vulnerable
5 other species are also endangered and 7 vulnerable

Carnivores

6 species

4 vulnerable, including the fosa and the Malagasy civet

Bats

14 species

2 vulnerable, among which the Madagascar flying fox

Other mammals

32 species

1 vulnerable

Plants

938 species

705 endemic to Madagascar (77%): 1 palm species classified as critically endangered and 9 species (including 7 palms) endangered and 2 vulnerable
17 local endemic (2%) including 1 classified as critically endangered and 1 palm species classified as vulnerable

Landscapes and habitats

Marshes and peat bogs, bamboo thickets, medium altitude moist evergreen forest, secondary formation, lakes and river.
Particularity: Existence of thermal spring.

Pressures and Threats

Slash-and-burn agriculture, bush fires, mining, grazing, selective logging of precious woods and timber, secondary forest product collection, invasive species, local population growth, insecurity.

Economic value

It is one of the national parks most visited by tourists in the network of MNP-managed protected areas. This provides an income opportunity for households through guiding, handicraft agricultural product sales, hotels and restaurants, … For years, the spa has been attracting both national and foreign visitors. Rivers provide a source of drinking water and allow rice field irrigation for the riverside communities. The Park is home to and protects the Namorona River's water reservoir, which is vital to the proper functioning of JIRAMA hydroelectric plant.

Contribution of local communities

Like all MNP-managed protected areas, Ranomafana National Park is managed in collaborative way, with local community member involvement in conservation and development activities. They are brought together in CLP (Local Park Committee) and COSAP (Committee for Protected Area Orientation and Support).

Category