The Ambohitantely Site

Ambohitantely Forest Reserve is approximately 5600 ha in surface and lies at altitudes between 1300 and 1650 m. The Reserve is located 140 km northwest of Antananarivo, about 30 km from Ankazobe. The Reserve consists of several patches of primary forest, of varying sizes. Total forest area now is approximately 1600 ha. The main part of the Reserve is a degraded grassland dominated by several species of Gramineae (Andropogon sp., Aristida sp., and Loudetia sp.). There is also a botanical garden with plantations of exotic tree species (Eucalyptus spp, Pinus spp., Callitris sp., Cupressus sp.).

An agreement signed in 1987 between ESSA-Forêts and the Ministry of Waters and Forests established the Reserve as an ESSA-Forêts site meant for applied research and training. ANGAP is now responsible for managing the Reserve. A number of research projects have been undertaken in the past 10 years, mostly conducted in the botanical garden. These include phenological studies and permanent forest plots set up to monitor forest dynamics across sylvicultural treatments.

Ambohitantely Reserve is one of the last vestiges of humid, dense forest in central domain of Madagascar. This forest is characterized by a high degree of diversity and endemism. The vegetation here is dominated by Weinmannia spp. (Cunoniaceae), Gymnosporia sp. (Celastraceae), Uapaca sp. (Uapacaceae), Ravensara sp. (Lauraceae) and Diospyros sp. (Ebenaceae). Along the valleys, palms (Dypsis sp. - Arecaceae) and pandans (Pandanus sp. - Pandanaceae) are abundant. Epiphytes, including Bulbophyllum spp., Angreacum spp. (Orchidaceae) and Polypodium spp. (Polypodiaceae), are common. Erica sp. (Ericaceae) and Nastus sp. (Gramineae) are dominant along the forest border.

A preliminary inventory of Ambohitantely Reserve listed 50 species of birds, 3 species of lemurs (Lemur fulvus, Microcebus rufus, Avahi laniger), 17 species of reptiles including the smallest Malagasy chameleons (Brookesia spp.), and 15 species of amphibians.

Little effort has been made to help the local residents manage the forests sustainably. In part this is because the villages are relatively far from the protected area. Livestock rearing and irrigated rice cultures are the main activities of villagers surrounding the Reserve. Repeated fire to increase grazing lands, overgrazing, and illegal timber harvesting are the main threats to Ambohitantely Forest Reserve.

Facilities have been set by ANGAP and ESSA-Forêts to receive visitors in Ambohitantely. Given the proximity of the site to Antananarivo and easy access for students and faculty from the School of Agronomy, fuller commitment could be anticipated. The few remaining patches of Central Highlands forest are rapidly declining, mostly through the repeated grass fires along fragment edges. This site is beginning to be known as a natural laboratory for understanding the effect of forest fragmentation on biodiversity.