Analavelona Classified Forest

Analavelona, also known as Analavelona Massif, is a mountain in southwestern Madagascar. The massif is home to an enclave of montane subhumid forest, which is considered a sacred forest by the local people and notable for its biodiversity.

Geography

Analavelona is located in Sakaraha District of Atsimo-Andrefana region of Madagascar, west-northwest of the town of Sakaraha. The massif extends generally northeast–southwest, with steep slopes incised by stream valleys. The highest peak is Mitsinjoriake at 1325 meters elevation.Alandraza Analavelo Site #92
''Protected Areas of Madagascar''. Accessed 19 November 2022.

The massif is surrounded by a mostly arid peneplain. The southeastern slope receives more orographic precipitation than the surrounding region, and the higher rainfall sustains subhumid forests. Rivers including the Fiherenana, which flows in the southeast, rise from springs on the mountain.

Flora and fauna

The forests of Analavelona are a southwestern outlier of Madagascar subhumid forests, which cover the highlands of central Madagascar. The forests are surrounded at lower elevations by semi-arid succulent woodlands. The nearest subhumid forests to Analavelona are on Isalo Massif, about 100 km to the east. Analavelona is home to plants and animals characteristic of the subhumid forests, as well as some endemic species found only on the mountain.

The varied elevation, climate, and soil composition on the massif supports diverse plant communities. The lower slopes are home to dense humid evergreen forest. The humid evergreen forests are tall and stratified, and canopy trees include species of ''Uapaca'' and ''Dalbergia'', with abundant lianas and strangler figs. Dense sclerophyllous montane forests are found on the plateau and upper slopes, and generally have an open understory. There is xerophilous brushland on rocky slopes, with species of '' Dracaena'' and ''Aloe''. The forests and brushland are interspersed with areas of grassland.

The forest is home to several rare and limited-range plants. ''Spondias tefyi'' is a species of tree found only in the Analavelona forests and the deciduous forests of Zombitse about 50 km to the southeast.Mitchell, J. D., Daly, D. C., & Randrianasolo, A. (2012). The first report of Spondias native to Madagascar: Spondias tefyi, sp. nov. (Anacardiaceae). ''Brittonia'', 64(3), 263–267. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23254063 ''Dalbergia hirticalyx'' is a large forest tree found in the Analavelona forest, with smaller populations in Zombitse and in Bongolava in central Madagascar. Other native plants include ''Aloe analavelonensis, Euphorbia analavelonensis'', and ''Pseudodicliptera humilis''.

Birds present include the green jery (''Neomixis viridis''), forest fody (''Foudia omissa'') and spectacled tetraka (''Phyllastrephus zosterops''), which are characteristic of the subhumid forests. Appert's tetraka (''Phyllastrephus apperti'') is found only here and in the Zombitse forests.BirdLife International (2022)
Important Bird Areas factsheet: Analavelona NPA
Accessed 19 November 2022.

Native mammals include Verreaux's sifaka (''Propithecus verreauxi''), ring-tailed lemur (''Lemur catta''), Zombitse sportive lemur (''Lepilemur hubbardorum''), pale fork-marked lemur (''Phaner pallescens''), red-fronted brown lemur (''Eulemur rufifrons''), and the carnivore fossa (''Cryptoprocta ferox'').

The Analavelona wood-millipede ('' Hylekobolus analavelona'') and Analavelona giant pill-millipede (''Zoosphaerium analavelona'')Rudolf, E. & Wesener, T. 2017. ''Zoosphaerium analavelona''. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T65524334A65527840. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T65524334A65527840.en. Accessed 19 November 2022. are endemic to Analavelona Massif.

Conservation

The Analavelona Forest, also known as Alandraza Analavelo, is considered a sacred forest by the local Bara people, for whom the forest has high social and cultural value as well as being a source of timber, food, and other forest products. A community-based management program, assisted by the Missouri Botanical Garden's Madagascar Conservation Program, has been managing the forest for over a decade.Beech, E., Rivers, M., Rabarimanarivo, M., Ravololomanana, N., Manjato, N., Lantoarisoa, F., Andriambololonera, S., Ramandimbisoa, B., Ralimanana, H., Rakotoarisoa, S., Razanajatovo , H., Razafiniary, V., Andriamanohera, A., Randrianasolo, V., Rakotonasolo, F., Rakotoarisoa, A., Randriamamonjy, N., Rajaovelona, L., Rakotomalala, N., Randriamboavonjy, T., Rajaonah, M., Rabehevitra, D., Ramarosandratana, A.V., Rakotoarinivo, M., B.H. Ravaomanalina and Jeannoda, V. (2021). ''Red List of Trees of Madagascar''. BGCI. Richmond, UK.

The forest was designated a classified forest by the Government of Madagascar. On 28 April 2015 (Decree No. 2015-766) the government designated the forest a natural monument, officially the ''Monument Naturel de la Forêt Sacrée Alandraza Analavelo'' (Alandraza Analavelo Sacred Forest Natural Monument), with an area of 44.87 km². It is also proposed as a national park.UNEP-WCMC (2022)
Protected Area Profile for Analavelona
from the World Database on Protected Areas. Accessed 19 November 2022.

References

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Madagascar subhumid forests
Atsimo-Andrefana
Forests of Atsimo-Andrefana
Important Bird Areas of Madagascar
Protected areas of Madagascar
Sacred sites in traditional African religions
Natural monuments