Protected Harmonious Landscape of Ambohitr'Antsingy of Montagne des Français, Category V
Service d'Appui à la Gestion de l'Environnement
6,049 ha
Province of Antsiranana; Region of Diana; District of Antsiranana II
Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), Priority Area for Plant Conservation (PAPC), Zero Extinction Alliance (ZEA) site
The main ecological values of the NPA Montagne des Français concern both its natural habitats and the flagship species it hosts. There are several types of plant cover including semi-deciduous dense dry forest, sub-humid forest or gallery forest, and typical Tsingy vegetation.
The fauna and flora are characterized by forms endemic to this northern region of Madagascar.
4 species
1 classified as critically endangered (i.e : Lepilemur septentrionalis), 2 in danger (i.e: the nocturnal lemur Aye-aye) and 1 vulnerable (Microcebus tavaratra)
75 species
52 species
3 local endemics, 2 of which are classified as endangered; 1 species classified as critically endangered, 2 as endangered and 9 as vulnerable
10 species
1 local endemic species vulnerable; 2 species endangered
10 species
4 vulnerable, among which the Madagascar flying fox
7 species
464 species
349 endemic to Madagascar (77%) among which 6 are classified as endangered (including 1 species of baobab tree) and 6 vulnerable; 13 local endemics (3%) of which 6 are classified as critically endangered, 1 endangered and 2 vulnerable
Limestone massif - tsingy, canyon, caves, xerophytic rocky vegetation, dry dense forest, low thicket, semi-deciduous dense rain forest, secondary forest, secondary thicket, secondary grassland.Part of the Mountain is used by the Roman Catholic religion as a place of pilgrimage considered as a very important site by the population of Diego City, Ramena and Mahavanona.Particularity : The PA also offers very old historical sites testifying, on the one hand, the occupation of the French colonists in the Northern part of the Mountain (Anosiravo) and that of the Merinas of the time of RADAMA I located in Ambohimarina, in the Southern part.Existence of sacred places, places of offerings and cults to the ancestors and to God.
Charcoal making activities, illegal logging for the timber market in Antsiranana, slash-and-burn agriculture, lemur hunting, uncontrolled fires, invasive plants.
The MDF is a water tower for the city of Antsiranana. Tourism activities in the protected area are currently beginning to develop with the construction of tourist circuits and camping sites in the protected area itself. This is an opportunity for additional income for the local populations, some of whose members are trained in tourist guiding techniques.
The local communities take part in the NPA's conservation activities through their participation in patrol missions, participatory ecological monitoring and firewall installation and maintenance work. Some members of these local communities have received training in tourist guiding techniques for the promotion of sustainable tourism in the protected area. The positive economic impact on household incomes of the development activities is not yet significant at present. The IGAs have been organized in a promising sector and their implementation will benefit more people from the local communities.
The Montagne des Français Protected Area is part of the Orangea Complex with the protected areas of Oronjia (MBG) and Ambodivahibe (CI). Unlike the 2 other protected areas, Montagne des Français is the only protected area in this complex that does not touch the sea.
The FAPBM's support for the management of Montagne des Français began in 2015. The total amount of subsidies to date is MGA 1,087,349,957. The activities put in place since the FAPBM's financing have consisted of basic conservation activities such as patrols, ecological monitoring, maintenance work and/or implementation of conservation infrastructures (boundaries, firebreaks, barriers, etc.), and ecological restoration of the protected area. Development support consists of the implementation of certain IGAs that improve household incomes. These IGAs have been gradually introduced in a value chain dynamic, aiming at the multiplication of beneficiaries and the sustainability of the activity. In MDF, these value chains are the cultivation of fruit trees and beekeeping, ....
