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MG014
Tsaratanana Strict Nature Reserve and surrounding areas
Location Madagascar, Antsiranana
Central coordinates 48o 52.00' East  14o 2.00' South
IBA criteria A1, A2, A3
Area 48,622 ha
Altitude 227 - 2,876m
Year of IBA assessment 2001

Asity Madagascar (Affiliate)



Ornithological information See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Ninety-four species are known from the site, of which 56 are endemic. Tyto soumagnei was found at an altitude of 2,000 m, the highest known for this species. This is also the northern limit known for Eutriorchis astur. Many species occur at higher altitudes here than elsewhere in their ranges. The subspecies Saxicola torquata tsaratananensis is limited to this site.

Site description Tsaratanana, located south of Ambanja, is the highest mountain range in Madagascar, with the peak of Maromokotro rising to 2,876 m. It is of volcanic origin, being composed of granite and migmatite. The headwaters of the Ramena, Sambirano and Mahavavy rivers lie within the reserve. Mid-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forest, characterized by an abundance of trees 10–12 m high, lianas and palms, covers the area up to 2,000 m. Dense bamboo forest, forming a belt, characterizes the area located between 2,000 and 2,200 m. Sclerophyllous montane forest is found between 2,200 and 2,600 m and grassy savanna occurs above 2,600 m (of human origin, having replaced the original montane bushland following repeated burning and livestock-grazing).

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Madagascar Crested Ibis Lophotibis cristata resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
Madagascar Serpent-eagle Eutriorchis astur resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Endangered 
Henst's Goshawk Accipiter henstii resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
Madagascar Flufftail Sarothrura insularis resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Madagascar Snipe Gallinago macrodactyla resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Madagascar Blue-pigeon Alectroenas madagascariensis resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-fronted Coua Coua reynaudii resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Blue Coua Coua caerulea resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Collared Nightjar Caprimulgus enarratus resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Short-legged Ground-roller Brachypteracias leptosomus resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Pitta-like Ground-roller Atelornis pittoides resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A3  Least Concern 
Rufous-headed Ground-roller Atelornis crossleyi resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Near Threatened 
Velvet Asity Philepitta castanea resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sunbird Asity Neodrepanis coruscans resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Yellow-bellied Asity Neodrepanis hypoxantha resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Dark Newtonia Newtonia amphichroa resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Ward's Flycatcher Pseudobias wardi resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A3  Least Concern 
Crossley's Babbler Mystacornis crossleyi resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Grey Emu-tail Amphilais seebohmi resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A2, A3  Least Concern 
Brown Emu-tail Dromaeocercus brunneus resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Least Concern 
White-throated Oxylabes Oxylabes madagascariensis resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Spectacled Tetraka Bernieria zosterops resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Grey-crowned Tetraka Bernieria cinereiceps resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Near Threatened 
Cryptic Warbler Cryptosylvicola randrianasoloi resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A2, A3  Least Concern 
Madagascar Yellowbrow Crossleyia xanthophrys resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Near Threatened 
Rand's Warbler Randia pseudozosterops resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A3  Least Concern 
Green Jery Neomixis viridis resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Wedge-tailed Jery Neomixis flavoviridis resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Near Threatened 
Forest Rock-thrush Monticola sharpei resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Least Concern 
Nelicourvi Weaver Ploceus nelicourvi resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Forest Fody Foudia omissa resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Tsaratanana Strict Nature Reserve 49,185 protected area contains site 48,622  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Shrubland   2%
Forest   97%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
forestry -
nature conservation and research -

Management considerations The forest in the massif is nearly intact, both within the reserve and in neighbouring areas. Threats to the site include cattle-grazing, cutting of certain tree species for their bark (used for flavouring alcoholic beverages), and cannabis cultivation in the Ramena valley.

References Andriamampianina and Peyrieras (1972), Albignac (1970), ANGAP/ORGASYS (1998), Milon (1951), Nicoll and Langrand (1989).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Tsaratanana Strict Nature Reserve and surrounding areas. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

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