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

Manager

Madagascar National Parks (MNP)

Surface area

64,935 ha

Geographical location

Province of Toamasina; Regions of Analanjirofo, Alaotra-Mangoro and Atsinanana; Districts of Ambatondrazaka, Toamasina II and Vavatenina

International label

UNESCO World Heritage (as “Ala Atsinanana” serial property), Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), Important Bird Area (IBA)

Flagship Species

Zahamena National Park is part of the serial world heritage site of the Atsinanana Rainforests. It is home to an exceptional biodiversity made up of mainly two major ecosystems: terrestrial ecosystem dominated by moist evergreen forests and an aquatic ecosystem consisting of a very dense network of rivers and swampy formations. There is a wide range of habitats associated with an exceptional bird diversity (over 95% of species characteristic of the ecoregion), and a high reptile diversity.

Primates

14 species

4 critically endangered (including the Indri indri or babakoto), 4 in danger (including the nocturnal lemur Aye-aye) and 3 vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List

Birds

111 species

5 endangered (including the Madagascar serpent eagle or Firasabe and the Magadasacan grebe) and 7 vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List

Reptiles

30 species

4 endangered (including 3 chameleon species) and 1 chameleon species vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List

Amphibians

27 species

Carnivores

7 species

4 vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, including the fosa and Madagascan civet

Bats

10 species

2 vulnerable, including the Madagascar flying fox

Other mammals

11 species

Plants

1218 species

912 endemic to Madagascar (76%): 3 species are classified as critically endangered, 11 species (including 9 palm trees) are endangered and 6 other flora species are vulnerable
12 local endemics (1%) including 2 palm trees species classified as critically endangered and 1 other flora species classified as vulnerable

Landscapes and habitats

Lowland moist evergreen forest, medium altitude moist evergreen forest, marshes, degraded or secondary forest.
Particularity: existence of several sacred sites “doany” (shrines) where different rites “joro” or “tromba” take place.

Pressures and threats

Selective commercial logging, collection of non-timber forest products, hunting, commercial mining, slash-and-burn mobile agriculture.

Economic value

The National Park provides protection and water supply for the river systems that drain the great valleys of Alaotra and the plains around Toamasina.

Local communities'initiatives

Like all protected areas managed by MNP, Zahamena National Park management is a collaborative co-management with the participation of local communities members in conservation and development activities. They are brought together in CLP (Local Park Committee) and COSAP (Protected Areas Guidance and Support Committee)

Category