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close| Location | Madagascar, Mahajanga |
| Central coordinates | 45o 21.00' East 16o 28.00' South |
| IBA criteria | A1, A2, A3 |
| Area | 21,742 ha |
| Altitude | 71 - 227m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Sixty-three species are known from the site, of which 28 are endemic to Madagascar. Philepitta schlegeli is quite common, while Alectroenas madagascariensis, a species normally confined to the East Malagasy biome, can be found on rare occasions.
Site description Namoroka Tsingy Strict Nature Reserve lies 55 km south of Soalala. Most of the site comprises a raised karst plateau, divided by gorges and limited on all sides by 30-m-high cliffs, similar to the Bemaraha Tsingy, 250 km to the south. There are four small permanent rivers, the Ambatofolaka, Mandevy, Andriabe and Ambararata, as well as various temporary streams. Permanent and temporary pools are located in the caves and caverns within the karst. During the dry season, the plateau is an important hydrological reservoir for the surrounding area. Dense, dry semi-deciduous forest covers c.50% of the reserve, especially in the gorges and on the periphery of the plateau. The karst plateau itself is covered by xerophilous bushland, dominated by Euphorbia, Pachypodium and baobabs Adansonia. The plateau is surrounded by slightly undulating ground, mainly covered by savanna (with palms Bismarckia) which is highly degraded due to annual burning for pasture. Gallery forests line the rivers flowing through the savanna, with screw-pines Pandanus prominent.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madagascar Grebe Tachybaptus pelzelnii | resident | 1997 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Madagascar Crested Ibis Lophotibis cristata | resident | 1997 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Near Threatened |
| Madagascar Pond-heron Ardeola idae | breeding | 1997 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Endangered |
| Madagascar Sparrowhawk Accipiter madagascariensis | resident | 1997 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Near Threatened |
| Giant Coua Coua gigas | resident | 1997 | present [units unknown] | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Coquerel's Coua Coua coquereli | resident | 1997 | present [units unknown] | - | A2, A3 | Least Concern |
| Red-capped Coua Coua ruficeps | resident | 1997 | present [units unknown] | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Schlegel's Asity Philepitta schlegeli | resident | 1997 | present [units unknown] | - | A1, A2, A3 | Near Threatened |
| Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata | resident | 1997 | present [units unknown] | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Sakalava Weaver Ploceus sakalava | resident | 1997 | present [units unknown] | - | A3 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tsingy de Namoroka | National Park | 22,071 | protected area contains site | 21,742 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 75% | |
| Grassland | 1% | |
| Forest | 22% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| fisheries/aquaculture | - |
| forestry | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| water management | - |
Other biodiversity Lemurs: Phaner furcifer pallescens (VU), Propithecus 1>verreauxi deckeni (VU). Carnivore: Cryptoprocta ferox (VU). Reptiles: Boa madagascariensis (VU), Brookesia bonsi (endemic to the site).
Management considerations The burning of pastures, bush-fires, illegal exploitation for construction wood, collection of medicinal plants, fishing and poaching together pose severe threats to the site.
References Andriamampianina and Peyrieras (1972), Hawkins (1994e), Jenkins (1987), Nicoll and Langrand (1989), Rand (1936), Reid and Hawkins (1993), Thalmann and Rakotoarison (1994).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Namoroka National Park. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013
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