TSITONGAMBARIKA FOREST, MADAGASCAR TSITONGAMBARIKA FOREST, MADAGASCAR Biological and socio-economic surveys, with conservation recommendations The biodiversity of Madagascar is well known to be exceptionally rich and highly threatened. Lowland humid evergreen forest is one of the most threatened vegetation types, but significant areas can still be found in the far south-east, notably at Biological and socio-economic surveys, with conservation recommendations Biological Tsitongambarika forest. This book presents the results of a series of biological and socio-economic surveys at Tsitongambarika. These clearly demonstrate the very great importance of this site, and point towards to approaches needed to conserve it. The work was coordinated by Asity Madagascar, with primary support and sponsorship from Rio Tinto, BirdLife International and Rio Tinto QMM. TSITONGAMBARIKA FOREST, MADAGASCAR Biological and socio-economic surveys, with conservation recommendations Edited by John Pilgrim, Narisoa Ramanitra, Jonathan Ekstrom, Andrew W. Tordoff and Roger J. Safford Maps by Andriamandranto Ravoahangy Translation by Kobele Keita and Andry Rakotomalala ■ Fieldwork Fieldwork funded Additional Additional French translation coordinated by and additional fieldwork by fieldwork by checked by fieldwork by Recommended citation: BirdLife International (2011) Tsitongambarika Forest, Madagascar. Biological and socio-economic surveys, with conservation recommendations. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. © 2011 BirdLife International Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 0NA, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1223 277318 Fax: +44 1223 277200 email: [email protected] Internet: www.birdlife.org BirdLife International is a UK-registered charity 1042125 ISBN 978-0-946888-78-8 British Library-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library First published 2011 by BirdLife International Designed and produced by NatureBureau Limited, 36 Kingfisher Court, Hambridge Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5SJ, United Kingdom Printed by Information Press, Oxford, United Kingdom Available from the Natural History Book Service Ltd, 2–3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN, UK. Tel: +44 1803 865913 Fax: +44 1803 865280 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.nhbs.com/services/birdlife.html ii ■ CONTENTS iv Participants and authors 28 Chapter 4: The lemurs of Tsitongambarika Forest vi Acknowledgements 28 Objectives 28 Study sites 1 Introduction 28 Methods 30 Results 2 Summary of findings 32 Discussion 33 Conclusions 4 Ny alan’ i Tsitongambarika, Madagasikara 33 Recommendations Famintinana (Summary in Malagasy) 34 Chapter 5: The herpetofauna of 6 Recommendations Tsitongambarika Forest 34 Introduction 8 Ny alan’ i Tsitongambarika, Madagasikara 34 Study sites Tolo-Kevitra (Recommendations in Malagasy) 36 Methods 36 Results 10 Chapter 1: Overview of the biological 40 Discussion importance of Tsitongambarika Forest 41 Conclusions 10 Background 41 Recommendations 10 The surveys 10 Vegetation and flora 42 Chapter 6: The birds of Tsitongambarika Forest 12 Mammals 42 Objectives 12 Reptiles and amphibians 42 Methods 12 Birds 45 Study sites 14 Ants 47 Results 14 Other values of the Tsitongambarika Forests 53 Discussion 15 Socio-economic situation 55 Recommendations 15 Management situation 16 Relevance of survey results for conservation 57 Chapter 7: The ants of the Ivohibe region of planning Tsitongambarika Forest 16 Direct payments project 57 Introduction 57 Study sites 17 Chapter 2: The flora of Tsitongambarika 57 Survey methods Forest 57 Results and discussion 17 Introduction 17 Objectives 60 Chapter 8: Socio-economic survey of the 17 Study site Tsitongambarika area 17 Methodology 60 Objectives 17 Results 60 Methodology 22 Conservation 60 Social organisation 22 Recommendations 62 Demographic situation 22 Conclusions 67 Discussion 68 Importance of biodiversity to communities 23 Chapter 3: The bats of Tsitongambarika 70 Threats to biodiversity Forest 71 Conservation of biodiversity 23 Introduction 72 Conclusions 23 Obectives 72 Recommendations 25 Study sites 25 Methods 74 References 25 Results 26 Discussion 77 Appendix: Community involvement in 27 Recommendations management of Tsitongambarika Forest: 2010 update iii ■ PARTICIPANTS AND AUTHORS Lalao Andriamahefarivo (Botanist) Département de la Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de Missouri Botanical Garden, BP 3391, l’Université de Toliara, Toliara, Madagascar Antananarivo, Madagascar John Pilgrim (Editor) Maminiaina Andriamahenitsoa (Socio-economist) The Biodiversity Consultancy, 4 Woodend, Asity Madagascar, BP 1074, Antananarivo, Trumpington, Cambridge, UK Madagascar Rivo Rabarisoa (Ornithologist) Patrice Antilahimena (Botanist) Asity Madagascar, BP 1074, Antananarivo, Missouri Botanical Garden, BP 3391, Madagascar Antananarivo, Madagascar Marc Rabenandrasana (Ornithologist) Mara Berge (Guide and President of Antsotso Asity Madagascar, BP 1074, Antananarivo, Communauté de Base) Madagascar Antsotso, Fort Dauphin/Tolagnaro, Madagascar Current addresses: Development and Biodiversity Conservation Action for Madagascar, Lot II A Chris Birkinshaw (Botanist) 93L, Anjanahary, Antananarivo, Madagascar Missouri Botanical Garden, BP 3391, and ECOMAR (Marine Ecology Laboratory), Antananarivo, Madagascar Sciences and Technology Faculty, University of La Réunion, 15 Avenue René Cassin, BP 7151 – Ramisy Edmond (Parataxonomist) 97715 Saint-Denis, La Réunion. Rio Tinto QMM, BP 225, Fort Dauphin/ Tolagnaro, Madagascar Johny Rabenantoandro (Botanist) Rio Tinto QMM, BP 225, Fort Dauphin/ Jonathan Ekstrom (Editor) Tolagnaro, Madagascar BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge, UK Marie Beatrice Yvonne Rahasinandrasana Current address: The Biodiversity Consultancy, (Socio-economist) 4 Woodend, Trumpington, Cambridge, UK Asity Madagascar, BP 1074, Antananarivo, Madagascar Brian Fisher (Entomologist) California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Rivo Rajoharison (Forestry Technician) Concourse Drive, San Francisco, USA Rio Tinto QMM, BP 225, Fort Dauphin/ Tolagnaro, Madagascar Soanary Claude Hery (Assistant) Rio Tinto QMM, BP 225, Fort Dauphin/Tolagnaro, Mamy Julia Christobelle Ralavanirina Madagascar (Primatologist) Asity Madagascar, BP 1074, Antananarivo, Porter P. Lowry II (Botanist) Madagascar Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. and Département Biologie Animale, Université Louis, MO, 63166-0299, USA d’Antananarivo and Département Systématique et Evolution (UMR Current address: 2 Allée du Collier, 40230 St 7205), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CP Vincent de Tyrosse, France 39, 57 Rue Cuvier, 75213 Paris CEDEX 05, France Jean Baptiste Ramanamanjato (Herpetologist) Eric Lowry (Student, MBG trainee) Rio Tinto QMM, BP 225, Fort Dauphin/ Missouri Botanical Garden, BP 3391, Tolagnaro, Madagascar Antananarivo, Madagascar Michael Ramanesimanana (Ornithologist) Tsibara Mbohoahy (Chiropterologist) Asity Madagascar, BP 1074, Antananarivo, Madagasikara Voakajy, BP 5181, Antananarivo, Madagascar Madagascar and Département Biologie Animale, Université and Biodiversité et environnement, Département de d’Antananarivo la Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de l’Université de Current address: Maromizaha Project Coordinator, Toliara, Toliara, Madagascar GERP Madagascar (Groupe d’Etude et de Recherche Current address: Biodiversité et Environnement, sur les Primates), BP 779, Antananarivo, Madagascar iv Narisoa Ramanitra (Ornithologist, Programme Andriamandranto Ravoahangy (Tsitongambarika Coordinator and Editor) Programme Coordinator) Asity Madagascar, BP 1074, Antananarivo, Asity Madagascar, BP 1074, Antananarivo, Madagascar Madagascar and Département Biologie Animale, Université d’Antananarivo Julien Razafimandimby (Assistant) Rio Tinto QMM, BP 225, Fort Dauphin/ Faly Randriatafika (Botanist) Tolagnaro, Madagascar Rio Tinto QMM, BP 225, Fort Dauphin/ Tolagnaro, Madagascar Richard Razakamalala (Botanist) Missouri Botanical Garden, BP 3391, Lovahasina Rasolondraibe (Ornithologist) Antananarivo, Madagascar Asity Madagascar, BP 1074, Antananarivo, Madagascar Roger Safford (Editor) and Département Biologie Animale, Université BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, d’Antananarivo Girton Road, Cambridge, UK Current address: Biologist, GERP Madagascar (Groupe d’Etude et de Recherche sur les Primates), Andrew W. (“Jack”) Tordoff (Editor) BP 779, Antananarivo, Madagascar BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge, UK Bruno Raveloson (Ornithologist) Current address: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Asity Madagascar, BP 1074, Antananarivo, Fund, Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Madagascar Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia, USA Collared Nightjar Caprimulgus enarratus (ANDRIAMANDRANTO RAVOAHANGY) v ■ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The biological survey and socio-economic study of Rabenantoandro, Faly Randriatafika, Julien Tsitongambarika forest and its surrounding areas Razafimandimby, Rivo Rajoharison and Soanary were carried out with contributions from many Claude Hery from Rio Tinto QMM; Tsibara organizations and individuals specialised in different Mbohoahy from Madagasikara Voakajy; Mamy Julia disciplines and taxa. Christobelle Ralavanirina, Marc Rabenandrasana, We first thank Rio Tinto and BirdLife International Michael Ramanesimanana, Lovahasina who were jointly responsible for initiating this Rasolondraibe, Maminiaina Andriamahenintsoa, programme of surveys. In particular, we thank the Marie Beatrice Yvonne Rahasinandrasana and partners of Rio Tinto and BirdLife International, Andriamandranto