TSITONGAMBARIKA FOREST, MADAGASCAR - BirdLife International

albeit unquantified, economically importance. The
forests protect the catchments of two of the Anosy
region’s major rivers: the Manampanihy (which
drains north-east and enters the sea at Manantenina)
and Efaho (which drains south and meets the sea west
of Tolagnaro). These rivers and their tributaries are
the main source of water for irrigation (essential for
paddy rice cultivation) and domestic use for rural
communities in the east of the region. In addition,
the forests of Tsitongambarika I protect the water
sources of the Lakandava pumping station and
Lanirano Lake, which provide, respectively, 75% and
25% of the water for Tolagnaro town.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION
Most of the local inhabitants living in and around
the Tsitongambarika forests belong to the Antanosy,
the majority ethnic group in Anosy Region. However,
some communities on the eastern side of the
Vohimena mountains originate from coastal areas to
the north of Anosy Region, while some communities
in Ranomafana valley, to the west of the mountains,
belong to the Betsileo and Bara ethnic groups, which
originate from the Malagasy highlands. These
inhabitants have been joined by recent waves of
immigrants from the south of Madagascar, who
mainly belong to the Antandroy ethnic group.
The local economy is largely subsistence-based.
Local villagers cultivate food crops, such as rice,
manioc (cassava), taro, yam and plantain, as well as
varying amounts of cash crops, such as coffee, sugar
cane, banana and other fruits. Coffee was previously
an important source of income for many households
but it is now less important than in the past, due to a
drop in price and deterioration of the transport
infrastructure. Most rural households have small
numbers of livestock, principally pigs, zebu and
poultry. Lobster fishing is an important source of
income for many households, particularly those on
the eastern (seaward) side of the Vohimena
mountains, and has been reported to reduce
communities’ dependence on forest resources.
Hunting is practiced by a significant proportion
of households, at least on an occasional basis. The
main target species include lemurs, pigeons and fruit
bats. There are some indications, however, that
hunting at Tsitongambarika may be lower than
elsewhere in Madagascar. For example, Brown Mesite
(a target species for hunters throughout its range) is
relatively common at Tsitongambarika. This
contrasts with the situation at Andohahela National
Park, where Goodman et al. (1997) failed to detect
this species during seven weeks of intensive fieldwork
in humid forest in 1995.
Although hunting is a concern, the most serious
threat to the intrinsic and service values of the
Tsitongambarika forests is deforestation, which is
being caused by expansion of tavy (shifting
cultivation, principally of manioc) and, to a lesser
Tsitongambarika Forest, Madagascar
degree, unsustainable exploitation of fuelwood
(firewood and charcoal). An analysis of forest cover
change over the period 1990–2000 revealed a net loss
of forest cover throughout the Tsitongambarika
forests, especially in the north-east of Tsitongambarika
III. Deforestation was concentrated at altitudes below
800 m, which are the most suitable areas for shifting
cultivation but, significantly, also the most important
areas from a biodiversity conservation perspective. As
a result, primary formations now tend to be
concentrated in remoter areas, in the interior of the
forest and at high elevations, particularly in rocky areas
and on steep slopes.
Local people report that expansion of shifting
cultivation is being driven by shortage of irrigated
rice land, declining agricultural productivity (due to
a lack of fertilisers and drying up of water sources)
and rapid population growth. The impact of shifting
cultivation is compounded by the fact that cleared
areas are generally not recolonised by forest, due to
frequent fires. Local people report that deforestation
is leading to low stream flows during the dry season
and siltation of rice fields. Deforestation has also been
reported to have negative impacts on water quality
and sedimentation rates at the Lakandava pumping
station, the main water source for Tolagnaro
(Goodman et al. 1997).
MANAGEMENT SITUATION
The Tsitongambarika forests comprise three
management units, with a combined area of
67,703 ha. The southernmost units, Tsitongambarika
I and II, were designated as Forêts Classées (Classified
Forests) in 1965 and 1970, respectively. The
northernmost unit, Tsitongambarika III, is
designated as a Forêt Domaniale (Public Domain
Forest).
Beginning in 1999, management responsibility for
Tsitongambarika I and II has been transferred to
village associations (communautés de base, known as
CoBas). There are more than 60 CoBas in total,
covering the two forest management units, many of
which have signed Transfer of Management (transfert
de gestion) agreements with the Circonscription des
Eaux et Forêts (regional Water and Forest Service of
the Malagasy Government) in Tolagnaro for a period
of three years. These CoBas have established
management committees to oversee the
implementation of the agreements but many of them
are largely inactive and the government forestry
service has limited capacity to support them. In
Tsitongambarika III, Transfer of Management
agreements are in process.
In the absence of effective management, there are
indications that pressures on the Tsitongambarika
forests are increasing, due to population growth and
depletion of fuelwood supplies elsewhere. There is a
need, therefore, to strengthen management of the
Tsitongambarika forests.
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