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

Manager

Madagascar National Parks (MNP)

Surface area

230,000 ha

Geographical location

Provinces of Antsiranana and Toamasina; Regions of Analanjirofo and Sava; Districts Antalaha and Maroantsetra

International label

UNESCO World Heritage (as “Atsinanana Rainforests” serial property), Key Area for Biodiversity (KBA), Important Bird Area (IBA), Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE)

Flagship Species

Masoala National Park is part of the serial world heritage site of the Atsinanana Rainforests. It is made up of 227,000ha terrestrial park, 3 detached plots of 2,980ha and 3 marine plots of 10,000ha. The vegetation is representative of dense lowland moist evergreen forests that maintain the genetic stock of several species of flora and fauna endemic to the eastern ecoregion. It is in this peninsula that we still find one of the largest groups of lowland evergreen forest under 600m that remain in Madagascar.

In the marine areas, we can find the most developed coral reefs, mangroves and phanerogams of the eastern region of Madagascar.

Lemurs

11 species

2 local endemic, 1 critically endangered (Varecia rubra) and 1 other endangered (Avahi mooreorum)
4 other species endangered including the nocturnal lemur Aye-aye and 4 vulnerable

Birds

136 species

4 endangered (including the Madagascar serpent eagle or Firasabe) and 9 vulnerable (including the Madagascar pratincole)

Reptiles

49 species

2 local endemic, 1 critically endangered (Phelsuma masohoala) / 2 other species endangered and 3 vulnerable

Amphibians

61 species

1 local endemic and endangered, 1 other species critically endangered, 3 endangered and 8 vulnerable

Carnivorans

7 species

5 vulnerable, including the fosa and the Malagasy civet

Bats

16 species

2 species vulnerable, including the Madagascar flying fox

Other mammals

19 species

Plants

1201 species

939 endemic to Madagascar (78 %) : 6 critically endangered, 7 endangered and 6 vulnerable
62 local endemic (5%) among which 7 classified as critically endangered
1 non-endemic species vulnerable

Landscapes and habitats

Littoral forest, swamps, lowland moist evergreen forest, medium altitude evergreen forest, secondary forest, mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass.
Particularity: prohibition to visit certain lakes or forests, prohibition to consume certain wild animals (eels, sea turtles, certain species of lemurs), prohibitions concerning certain taxa.

Pressures and threats

Slash-and-burn mobile agriculture, precious wood exploitation, mining extraction, hunting, human occupation, collection of secondary forest products, fishing, presence of trails, uncontrolled fires, mangrove woods logging.

Economic value

Protection of water systems and water sources supplying the basins of the region and part of the Andapa Basin (rice granary of the region).

Local communities'initiatives

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

Category