A last refuge of southeast Madagascar's lowland humid forest, sheltering endemic lemurs, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.
Tsitongambarika
Tsitongambarika is a large protected area of lowland forest in the Anosy region of southeastern Madagascar, lying just north of Fort-Dauphin. It represents one of the last significant expanses of lowland humid evergreen forest remaining in the south of the island, an ecosystem widely regarded as among the most threatened vegetation types in Madagascar. The reserve spans a rugged massif of southwest-to-northeast aligned ridges and includes the isolated Mount Ivohibe, with elevations mostly below 800 meters.
The area is distinguished by its exceptional biodiversity and concentration of endemic species, including lemurs, amphibians, reptiles, and forest birds. Botanical surveys in the 2000s recorded dozens of previously undescribed plant species, and the site has been recognized as an Important Bird Area since 2001. Beyond its ecological value, Tsitongambarika serves as the principal watershed for the surrounding region, feeding rivers that sustain irrigated rice cultivation on the coastal plain and the water supply of Fort-Dauphin itself.
The reserve was formally established in 2015 through a national decree, consolidating earlier classified forest designations from the 1960s and 1970s. Conservation management has been led since 2005 by the NGO Asity Madagascar in partnership with local communities. Despite its protected status, BirdLife International classifies the site as an Important Bird Area in Danger, reflecting persistent pressures from deforestation, shifting cultivation, and uncontrolled fire.
