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MG065
Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park
Location Madagascar, Toliara
Central coordinates 44o 49.00' East  22o 37.00' South
IBA criteria A1, A2, A3
Area 74,000 ha
Altitude 485 - 825m
Year of IBA assessment 2001

Asity Madagascar (Affiliate)



Ornithological information See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Ninety species are known from this site, of which 38 are endemic to Madagascar. One of the endemic species, Phyllastrephus apperti, is known only from the forests of Zombitse and Analavelona (IBA MG066). Two species, Thamnornis chloropetoides and Nesillas lantzii, are characteristic of spiny forest. Monticola bensoni is recorded here seasonally.

Site description This site lies c.10 km from Sakaraha and 130 km from Toliara, and consists of the Zombitse, Vohibasia and Isoky-Vohimena Forests, which cover a gently undulating terrain of dome-shaped sandstone hills. The Isalo massif lies to the east, and a calcareous plateau (820 m high) to the west—both are oriented north–south. The soil is sandy. The Fiherenana and Teheza rivers, tributaries of the Onilahy, rise within the Zombitse and Vohibasia Forests. The vegetation consists of dense deciduous forest and xerophilous bushland, dominated by Securinega, Malleastrum, Carissa and Teclea, with some emergents, such as Commiphora and Brachylaena. The xerophilous bushland is characterized by species of Euphorbia, Adansonia and Dialium.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Madagascar Grebe Tachybaptus pelzelnii resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Madagascar Crested Ibis Lophotibis cristata resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
Madagascar Pond-heron Ardeola idae breeding  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Endangered 
Madagascar Harrier Circus macrosceles resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Vulnerable 
Madagascar Sparrowhawk Accipiter madagascariensis resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
Henst's Goshawk Accipiter henstii resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Near Threatened 
Giant Coua Coua gigas resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Coquerel's Coua Coua coquereli resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A2, A3  Least Concern 
Red-capped Coua Coua ruficeps resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Lantz's Brush-warbler Nesillas lantzii resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Appert's Tetraka Bernieria apperti resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2, A3  Vulnerable 
Thamnornis Warbler Thamnornis chloropetoides resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 
Forest Rock-thrush Monticola sharpei resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A1  Least Concern 
Forest Rock-thrush Monticola sharpei winter  1999  present [units unknown]  -  A2, A2  Least Concern 
Sakalava Weaver Ploceus sakalava resident  1993-1997  present [units unknown]  -  A3  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park 36,853 protected area contained by site 36,853  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Shrubland   24%
Grassland   17%
Forest   57%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture -
hunting -
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -
other -
Notes: Charcoal production.

Other biodiversity Lemurs: Mirza coquereli (VU), Phaner furcifer pallescens (VU), Lemur catta (VU), Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi (VU). Carnivore: Cryptoprocta ferox (VU). Bats: Scotophilus robustus (nt), Mormopterus jugularis (VU). Reptile: Phelsuma standingi (VU).

Management considerations The park is a biological reservoir of primary importance, due to its location straddling the western and southern domains of Madagascar. Route Nationale 7 runs through Zombitse Forest. The main threats include exploitation of forest species, cattle-grazing, vegetation clearance and deforestation for maize cultivation or production of charcoal, as well as uncontrolled bush-fires.

References Benson (1974), Bru (1996), Collar and Stuart (1988), Colston (1972), Goodman and Langrand (1994), Jenkins (1987), Langrand and Goodman (1997), Mustoe (1997), Mustoe et al. (1998), Nicoll and Langrand (1989), Randriantavy (1993), Razafimahaimodison (1993).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park. 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