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close| Location | Madagascar, Fianarantsoa |
| Central coordinates | 45o 15.00' East 22o 23.00' South |
| IBA criteria | A1, A2, A3 |
| Area | 81,540 ha |
| Altitude | 510 - 1,268m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2001 |
Ornithological information See Box and Tables 2 and 3 for key species. Eighty-one species are known from the site, of which 27 are endemic to Madagascar. The range of Monticola bensoni is restricted to the Isalo–Zombitse Vohibasia region, including Analavelona (IBA MG066) and possibly the Mangoky canyons (MG063). It appears to have a rather patchy distribution within the park, being absent from large areas in the centre.
Site description This site is 180 km long and 20–25 km wide, and is located 3 km from Ranohira. It consists of a large sandstone massif, with a peculiar ruinlike aspect, that rises out of a plain. This chain of outcrops includes deeply eroded canyons, the most famous of which are Monkey Canyon and Rat Canyon. The hydrographic network is composed of clear, fast-flowing streams, which drain into the tributaries of the Menamaty in the east, and into those of the Mangoky and Malio in the west. There are also marshes, such as at Andranovorinkaolo, as well as lakes, such as the Golden Lake, whose flora includes Polygonum, Echinochloa, Panicum and Cyperus. Forest covers 10% of the park’s area, and comprises three types. The dense, dry deciduous forest, mainly composed of Commiphora and Dalbergia, is relatively degraded. Gallery forest is dominated by Eugenia, Tamarindus and Mangifera—one area of this type, Andranofotsy, in the north of the park, has an area of c.240 ha. Low- and mid-altitude, dense, humid evergreen forest occurs in the shelter of canyons and is composed of Voacanga, Nuxia, Weinmannia and Tambourissa. The understorey is composed of thick clumps of ferns Blechnum. The vegetation on open areas of bare rock includes species of Pachypodium, Kalanchoe, Senecio, Aloe, Helichrysum and Euphorbia. Wooded savanna covers 40% of the site’s area, and includes trees of Stereospermum, Albizia, Borassus, Pemphis and Dicoma. Open savanna, with or without scattered palms (of Bismarckia and Hyphaene) is more common.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madagascar Grebe Tachybaptus pelzelnii | resident | 1995 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Madagascar Crested Ibis Lophotibis cristata | resident | 1995 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Near Threatened |
| Madagascar Pond-heron Ardeola idae | breeding | 1995 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Endangered |
| Madagascar Harrier Circus macrosceles | resident | 1995 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Henst's Goshawk Accipiter henstii | resident | 1995 | present [units unknown] | - | A1 | Near Threatened |
| Giant Coua Coua gigas | resident | 1995 | present [units unknown] | - | A3 | Least Concern |
| Forest Rock-thrush Monticola sharpei | resident | 1995 | present [units unknown] | - | A1, A2, A2 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isalo | National Park | 86,567 | protected area contains site | 81,540 |
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Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 49% | |
| Grassland | 49% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| forestry | - |
| nature conservation and research | - |
| tourism/recreation | - |
Other biodiversity Lemurs: Mirza coquereli (VU), Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi (VU), Lemur catta (VU).
Management considerations Uncontrolled bush-fires are the main threat, but others include illegal exploitation for firewood and construction wood, and poaching. Sapphire mining is likely to become a problem in the near future.
References Andriamampianina and Peyrieras (1972), Farkas (1971), Hawkins and Raharimalala (1995), Jenkins (1987), Langrand and Goodman (1996), Nicoll and Langrand (1989).
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Isalo (Isalo National Park IBA). Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013
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