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MG017
Masoala National Park
Location Madagascar, Antsiranana
Central coordinates 50o 3.00' East  15o 32.00' South
IBA criteria A1, A2, A3
Area 230,000 ha
Altitude 0 - 1,224m
Year of IBA assessment 2001

Asity Madagascar (Affiliate)



Ornithological information See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. One hundred and eleven species are known from the site, of which 60 are endemic to Madgascar. The park is the first site where research could be carried out on Eutriorchis astur and it is the best known area for the protection of this threatened species.

Site description This site is located on the Masoala peninsula. It consists of a terrestrial area, covering 67% of the forested massif of the peninsula in the west, and a marine area that includes three reserves—Tampolo, Tanjona and Cape Masoala—and a marine sanctuary in Antongil Bay. The western slope of the peninsula, starting c.10 km in from the coast, is very steep while the eastern slope, c.50 km wide, inclines gently. About 98% of the site’s land surface is covered by more or less intact, low- to mid-altitude, humid evergreen forest.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Madagascar Crested Ibis Lophotibis cristata resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
Madagascar Pond-heron Ardeola idae breeding  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Endangered 
Madagascar Serpent-eagle Eutriorchis astur resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Endangered 
Madagascar Sparrowhawk Accipiter madagascariensis resident  -  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
Henst's Goshawk Accipiter henstii resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
Brown Mesite Mesitornis unicolor resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Madagascar Flufftail Sarothrura insularis resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Madagascar Wood Rail Canirallus kioloides resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Madagascar Blue-pigeon Alectroenas madagascariensis resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Red-breasted Coua Coua serriana resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A2, A3  Least Concern 
Red-fronted Coua Coua reynaudii resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Blue Coua Coua caerulea resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Madagascar Red Owl Tyto soumagnei resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Collared Nightjar Caprimulgus enarratus resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Short-legged Ground-roller Brachypteracias leptosomus resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Scaly Ground-roller Brachypteracias squamiger resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Pitta-like Ground-roller Atelornis pittoides resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A3  Least Concern 
Velvet Asity Philepitta castanea resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sunbird Asity Neodrepanis coruscans resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Bernier's Vanga Oriolia bernieri resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Nuthatch Vanga Hypositta corallirostris resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A2, A3  Least Concern 
Dark Newtonia Newtonia amphichroa resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Ward's Flycatcher Pseudobias wardi resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A3  Least Concern 
Crossley's Babbler Mystacornis crossleyi resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
White-throated Oxylabes Oxylabes madagascariensis resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Spectacled Tetraka Bernieria zosterops resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Grey-crowned Tetraka Bernieria cinereiceps resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Near Threatened 
Rand's Warbler Randia pseudozosterops resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A3  Least Concern 
Green Jery Neomixis viridis resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Forest Rock-thrush Monticola sharpei resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Least Concern 
Nelicourvi Weaver Ploceus nelicourvi resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Forest Fody Foudia omissa resident  1993-1994  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Masoala National Park 220,477 protected area contained by site 220,477  
Rainforests of the Atsinanana World Heritage Site 479,661 protected area contains site 230,000  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest   99%

Land use

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

Other biodiversity Plants: there are palms which are endemic to the Sahavavy, Hiaraka and Antalavia region, such as Marojejya darainii, Dypsis pachyramea and Lemurophoenix halleuxi, as well as a carnivorous pitcher-plant endemic to the peninsula, Nepenthes masoalensis. Lemurs: Varecia variegata rubra (CR), Daubentonia madagascariensis (EN), Phaner furcifer furcifer (nt). Carnivores: Fossa fossana (VU), Galidictis fasciata (VU), Eupleres goudotii (EN), Cryptoprocta ferox (VU), Salanoia concolor (VU).

Management considerations Threats to the site include slash-and-burn cultivation, exploitation for wood, and hunting of lemurs, wild boar and some bird species, as well as collection of other wild foodstuffs and medicinal plants.

References Andreone, (1994), Andriamampianina and Peyrieras (1972), Aurivillius and Aurivillius (1994), Berkelman (1997), Eguchi et al. (1993), Jenkins (1987), Nicoll and Langrand (1989), Razafindrasoa (1996), Safford and Duckworth (1990), Thiollay and Meyburg (1981), Thorstrom et al. (1994), Thorstrom and Watson (1997), Thorstrom et al. (1994),Wildlife Conservation Society (1995).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Masoala National Park. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013

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