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MG003
Montagne d'Ambre National Park and Special Reserve
Location Madagascar, Antsiranana
Central coordinates 49o 10.00' East  12o 32.00' South
IBA criteria A1, A2, A3
Area 20,030 ha
Altitude 850 - 1,475m
Year of IBA assessment 2001

Asity Madagascar (Affiliate)



Ornithological information See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Eighty-three species are known from the site, of which 41 are endemic to Madagascar. The level of local avian endemism is significant: Phyllastrephus zosterops fulvescens and Monticola (sharpei) erythronotus are restricted to the site (the latter being considered a separate species by some authorities). Tyto soumagnei, a species known from very few other sites, has also been recorded in the park. A pair of Haliaeetus vociferoides used to nest in the park, but no longer does so.

Site description The site, a massif of volcanic origin, lies c.20 km south-west of Antsiranana. It comprises a 30-km-long string of basalt peaks, oriented north–south, with steep-sided valleys. Many rivers rise on the massif, the main ones being the Sahinana, Saharenana and Andranomandevy. There are also a number of lakes: Petit Lac, Grand Lac, Lac Maudit and Lac Texier. The north-eastern part of the site is covered by extensive low- and mid-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forests, dominated by trees of Chrysophyllum, Canarium, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Leguminosae, while the western part is covered in dense, dry deciduous forest. In between these two areas, there are transition forests.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Madagascar Grebe Tachybaptus pelzelnii resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Madagascar Crested Ibis Lophotibis cristata resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
Madagascar Pond-heron Ardeola idae breeding  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Endangered 
Madagascar Fish-eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides resident  1985  -  -    Critically Endangered 
Madagascar Sparrowhawk Accipiter madagascariensis resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
Henst's Goshawk Accipiter henstii resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
Madagascar Flufftail Sarothrura insularis resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Madagascar Wood Rail Canirallus kioloides resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Madagascar Blue-pigeon Alectroenas madagascariensis resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Collared Nightjar Caprimulgus enarratus resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Pitta-like Ground-roller Atelornis pittoides resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A3  Least Concern 
Dark Newtonia Newtonia amphichroa resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-throated Oxylabes Oxylabes madagascariensis resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Spectacled Tetraka Bernieria zosterops resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Forest Rock-thrush Monticola sharpei resident  1999  unknown [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Least Concern 
Nelicourvi Weaver Ploceus nelicourvi resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Forest Fody Foudia omissa resident  1985  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Montagne d'Ambre National Park 22,636 protected area contains site 20,030  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Unknown   1%
Forest   97%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
forestry -
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -
water management -

Other biodiversity Lemurs: Phaner furcifer electromontis (VU), Eulemur coronatus (VU), E. fulvus sanfordi (VU), Lepilemur septentrionalis (VU), Daubentonia madagascariensis (EN). Carnivores: Galidia elegans dambrensis is locally endemic, Cryptoprocta ferox (VU), Eupleres goudotii (EN).

Management considerations In addition to its interest as a tourist site, the park is also important because it is the only hydrological reservoir for the entire far north of the country. Uncontrolled bush-fires are worsening soil erosion. Other threats include forest exploitation (in the southern part) and clearance (in the eastern part).

Further web sources of information 

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This site has been identified as an AZE due to it containing a Critically Endangered or Endangered species with a limited range.

Click here for more information about the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE)

References Andreone (1994), Andriamampianina and Peyrieras (1972), Delacour (1932), Green et al. (1991), Jenkins (1987), Langrand and Lenormand (1985), Nicoll and Langrand (1989), Rand (1936), Raxworthy and Nussbaum (1994), Salomonsen (1934a).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Montagne d'Ambre National Park and Special Reserve. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 20/06/2013

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife