Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve is a World Heritage Site located in Madagascar.

Geographical Location

The reserve lies 60-80 kilometers (km) inland from the west coast in the northern sector of the Antsingy region of the Bemaraha Plateau, north of the Manambolo River Gorge.

Date and History of Establishment

The area was first established as a strict nature reserve on 31 December 1927, and is now protected under Decree No. 66-242 of 1 June 1966. The ancient cemeteries within the Manambolo Gorge, the gorge itself, and the "forêt et rochers" (which includes the reserve), are all designated "natural monuments and sites" under a decree of 25 August 1937, all three being listed by an 'arrêté' of 11 February 1939. However, this latter designation does not imply any degree of management or protection. Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1990.

Physical Features

Much of the area comprises highly dissected limestone karst, part of the Bemaraha Plateau. This massif is delimited to the east by abrupt cliffs, the Bemaraha Cliff, which rises some 300 to 400 m above the Manambolo River valley and extends several tens of kilometers from north to south. The western slopes of the massif rise more gently, and the whole western region of the reserve forms a plateau with rounded hillocks which slope away, with decreasing steepness, to the west. To the north undulating hills alternate with limestone extrusions, while in the south extensive pinnacle formations make access extremely restricted. The northern side of the Manambolo River Gorge lies within the reserve, with cliffs falling some 100 m. Both seasonal and permanent rivers flow on the plateau (draining to the west), and numerous permanent springs arise at the base of the Tsingy on both sides. The Tsingy is an important water catchment for surrounding lands, particularly those to the west.

Climate

Rainfall is seasonal, with a dry season of six to eight months, and a wet season around December-March. Annual rainfall is about 980 millimeters (mm), and the Tsingy is wetter than all areas lying to the west. Mean annual temperature is above 26 degrees Celsius (°C), and mean monthly temperatures remain above 20°C. Extremes of 38°C and 9°C have been registered in December and July, respectively.

Vegetation

Vegetation is characteristic of the calcareous karst regions of western Madagascar, with dense, dry, deciduous forest, and extensive anthropogenic savannas throughout. Although there have been few studies (mostly carried out more than 40 years ago), and the flora is not well known, many of the species are unique to this formation, including Diospyros perrieri (the ebony of the west coast), several Delonix species, and Musa perrieri (the only wild banana in Madagascar). Also, baobabs Adansonia are found here, and xerophytic plants such as Aloe on rocky formations. Notable families include Flacourtiaceae, Orchidaceae, Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae, Annonaceae, Bombacaceae and Moraceae. The aquatic Aponogeton fenestrale occurs in some of the rivers. The vegetation is similar to that of the Tsingy de Namoroka, but the much larger area and the greater height of the karst relief make the vegetation richer here.

Fauna

The fauna of the region has not been studied in any detail. The Tsingy is the only known location for chameleon Brookesia Perarmata (known from only a few specimens). Amongst the 53 species of bird recorded here, this is the only western dry forest site known for Madagascar grey-throated rail Canirallus kioloides (only previously known from north-western and eastern Madagascar). The reserve is also the only protected area where the endemic nesomyine rodent Nesomys rufus lambertoni is known to occur (a subspecies which is thought to be sufficiently distinctive to warrant full species status). There is also an unconfirmed report of aye-aye Daubentonia madagascariensis being seen just outside the reserve near Bekopaka. Other notable species include goshawk Accipiter hensti, which may be threatened, and lemurs Propithecus verreauxi deckeni, western gentle lemur Hapalemur griseus occidentalis, forked marked lemur Phaner forcifer, and Milne-Edwards sportive lemur Lepilemur edwardsi.

Cultural Heritage

A number of ancient cemeteries occur on the plateau and in the Manambolo Gorge.

Local Human Population

Several families live within the reserve (illegally), and parts are affected by the activities of people living in adjacent villages.

Visitors and Visitor Facilities

Tourism could potentially be important in this region, although access is currently forbidden by law, other than for scientific purposes. There are, therefore, no facilities within the reserve (and the nearest hotels are in Maintirano, 150 km by road from the edge of the reserve). Visitation is restricted to occasional visits to the pinnacle region to the south or to the forests in the north, and guides based at Antsalova and Bekopaka lead overnight trips to them.

Scientific Research and Facilities

Little work has been done in this region apart from a few collecting expeditions. The reserve was apparently surveyed in the 1930s, and the vegetation reported upon around 1970, although details are lacking. Studies of prosimians made in similar forests in other areas are reported on by Petter and Charles-Dominique, and of birds by Milon. There are no research facilities.

Conservation Value

In terms of its large size and relatively low surrounding human population pressure, Bemaraha Reserve is the single most biologically important protected area in western Madagascar. Vegetation consists mainly of dense dry deciduous forests, which are characteristic of the limestone plateaux of western Madagascar. The Tsingy de Bemaraha is the principle source of water for much of the surrounding region.

credited to eoearth and flickr: Olivier Lejade