Natural Resource Reserve, Category VI (South)
World Wide Fund for Nature Madagascar Country Office (WWF MDCO)
80 204 ha
Province of Antsiranana; Regions of Sava and Sofia; Districts of Andapa, Bealanana, and Befandriana Nord
Key Biodiversity Area, Important Plant Area, Important Bird Area (IBA), Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE)
COMATSA is essentially covered continuously by the mid-
altitude evergreen rainforest. The southern part is less rich than the north part in terms of flora, however, the represented flora includes endemic species of the Sambirano domain. The southern part is equally rich in fauna with considerable specific diversity in reptiles and amphibians; local endemic species are also recorded for both groups.
9 species
1 critically endangered (Silky Sifaka), 1 endangered (Aye-aye), 3 vulnerable (e.g. Red-bellied lemur)
24 species
1 endangered, 1 vulnerable and 1 local endemic chameleon species
43 species
1 endangered, 4 vulnerable, 4 local endemic species among which 1 endangered and 1 vulnerable
1135 species
809 endemic to Madagascar: 2 endangered and 6 local endemic species including 2 critically endangered and 2 endangered
Medium-altitude evergreen rainforest, mountain ericoid thickets, rocky vegetation, secondary grasslands and pastures, mosaic of cultivation, secondary forests and thickets, marshes and peatlands.
Deforestation, fires, selective logging, collection of forest products, hunting, mining exploitation.
Hydrological source feeding the basins of the region; protection of hydrographic networks irrigating the large rice-growing area of the Andapa basin. It also plays an important role in regulating the climate of the region.
The manager works jointly with the Community of Base (COBA) in the implementation of activities carried out in the protected area. These local communities are strongly involved, notably through their participation in conservation activities: polisin'ala, for example, ensure patrols and surveillance in their respective areas. The COBAs benefit from support, training, and capacity building to enable them to acquire the technical, institutional, and organizational capacities required for good natural resource management.
The funding ensures the implementation of conservation activities (patrols and monitoring, ecological monitoring and restoration, Information-Education-Communication - IEC, etc.), support for local communities and management structures, and covers part of the salary and operating costs of the management unit.
