The precious forests of Madagascar

Madagascar has many types of forests, very rich in biodiversity and with a high rate of endemicity. WWF Madagascar presents the precious forests of Madagascar.

First, it should be noted that thethe big island is home to 5% species of the world. About 95% reptiles from Madagascar, 89% flora and 92% of our mammals exist nowhere else on Earth.

This natural wealth is distributed in different habitats. WWF Madagascar intervenes in the conservation and sustainable management of these forests. They have a particular biodiversity that must be preserved sustainably and have been classified in “priority landscapes”.

Below are some examples.

The thorny forests :

In the southwest of Madagascar, thorny forests extend from the Mangoky River in the southwest to the Anosy Mountains in the southeast.

This region has a very large geological variation : limestone plateaus, sandy coastal plains, mountains and volcanic formations. The thorny thickets that live there are thorny plants of the endemic Didiaceae or Euphorbiaceae family.. They conserve water and thanks to this particularity allow many species in arid zones to drink.

Thorny forests are home to many species. Grandidier's Vontsira is a species of mongoose from this forest. It lives only on the limestone plateau of Tsimanampesotse and nowhere else in the world.. Reptiles and amphibians including the radiated tortoise also live there.

These thorny forests are threatened because of their richness. WWF manages the Amoron'i Onilahy protected area with communities and collaborates with Madagascar National Park in the protection of thorny forests and the radiated tortoise in Tsimanampesotse National Park.

Dry forests :

Some of the forests of western and southern Madagascar are dense dry deciduous forests. That is to say, they lose their leaves depending on the season..

Most trees lose their leaves during the dry season (from May to October), leaving leaf litter on the ground. Dry forests are characterized by very high local endemism of plants and animals.

In dry forests live for example the Fosa, and the Verreaux Sifaka.

Rainforests :

Humid forests are present along the eastern slope of the island, particularly high levels of endemism and diversity.

Hundreds of species of vertebrate animals and perhaps thousands of species of plants are strictly endemic to rainforests.

Rainforests extend from Marojejy in the north to the Beampingaratsy mountain plateau, in the Anosy Region.

Mangrove forests :

Madagascar has the second largest expanse of mangroves in the Indian Ocean with more than 2000km2.

These are forests that develop in intertidal zones, between the sea, coasts and rivers. At high tide, you have to navigate between them. During low tide you can cross the mangroves on foot.

They have a strong carbon sequestration capacity, they mitigate the impact of storms and sea rise on the coast. Mangroves are a nursery for fish and crustaceans, a nest for birds, and are very productive areas for small-scale crab fishing, shrimp, fish...

It should be noted that mangroves deserve a sustainable conservation strategy. In the Menabe and Diana regions, more than 120 hectares of mangroves were restored by communities with the support of WWF in 2020. The main threats to mangrove forests are conversion to rice fields, illegal coal mining and illegal logging.

Gallery forests :

They are located on the edge of the river, river or lake.

Gallery forests are characterized by large, tall trees, like tamarind trees. Thanks to the abundant presence of water, the majority of trees or shrubs keep their leaves all year round, Thus, the forests are always green.

These forests are the preferred habitat of certain species of lemurs., especially the Maki. It is a safe haven even during dry periods because the trees are very tall and the food (leaves) is available at all times. Gallery forests are therefore important in helping species cope with climate change.

The main threats to gallery forests are their conversion into fertile agricultural areas., and coal mining.

The precious forests of Madagascar

These forests are unique and very precious. And they must be preserved.

(Source : WWF Madagascar – Photo by Cyrille Cornu)

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