Baly Bay National Park, Category II
Madagascar National Parks (MNP)
57,418 ha
Province of Mahajanga; Boeny Region; District of Soalala
Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) site, Important Bird Area (IBA)
The Baly Bay National Park is of critical importance for the in situ conservation of the critically endangered Angonoka turtle (Astrochelys yniphora).
The vegetation is composed of dense dry semi-caducifolia forests, Tsingy, mangroves and wooded savannah.
There are 7 species of lemurs including the Propithecus deckenii, 5 species of reptiles and 1 species of amphibians. The avifauna is represented by 112 species with 55 species of water birds.
7 species
1 critically endangered and 3 vulnerable
112 species
1 critically endangered (the Madagascan Fish Eagle or ankoay), 4 endangered (among which the Madagascan Grebe) and 2 vulnerable (including the Madagascan Pranticole)
5 species
1 locally endemic and critically endangered turtle (the angonoka) and 1 species of geckos endangered
1 species
3 species
2 vulnerable, including the fossa
2 species
1 vulnerable, namely the Malagasy flying fox
2 species
35 species
26 species endemic to Madagascar (74%), among which 3 endangered
Dry semi-deciduous forest, degraded or secondary forest, secondary thickets, secondary grasslands, swamps and peat bogs, mangroves, aquatic environment. Particularity: The Protected Area is home to monuments and sacred doany sites: the first mosquee in the region, a site with tombs of former missionaries, tombs of Sakalava kings, Lavohazo : a place where sohihy is used to build the coffins of deceased kings, the Rangan-Dolo festival site: a festival related to the cleaning of royal tombs.
Bush fires, illegal trafficking of Astrochelys yniphora, hunting, selective logging in forests and mangroves, collection of non-timber forest products, zebu grazing in the forest.
The park is a water reservoir for rice cultivation and a reservoir of fishery resources that allow the population to benefit from them as sources of income. The raphia area subject to specifications (CUA) provides raw materials for the population, whose sale of the products is a source of income.
Like all protected areas managed by MNP, Baly Bay National Park management is a collaborative co-management with the participation of local community members in conservation and development activities. They are brought together in the CLP (Local Park Committee) and the COSAP (Protected Areas Orientation and Support Committee).
FAPBM’s support for Baly Bay National park regarding salary costs and some operating costs started in 2014. It is important to note that the Baly Bay National Park has benefited on several occasions from the Emergency to secure the Angonoka turtle. This emblematic species of the national park is still under strong pressure currently, although illegal trafficking seems to have calmed down over the latest months.
