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Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

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→‎Map of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

'''The protected area of ''Tsingy de Bemaraha'' in the west of Madagascar consists of a national park and strict nature reserve. The site is unique with its biodiversity and exceptional landscape called the ''Tsingy'' - which can be translated into "where one can only walk on tiptoe". In 1990, Bemaraha was the first area in Madagascar to be classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it also became a UNESCO National Cultural Heritage Site in 1991. Part of the reserve was changed to national park status in 1997.'''

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Bemaraha National Park is located in the Melaky region in ~~the~~ central west Madagascar, about 300km from [[Antananarivo]] as the crow flies. The park stretches over an area of 157,710ha, with a length of 100km from north to south and a width of 10 to 40km from east to west. The southern part with an area of 72,340ha enjoys the status of being a national park. The northern part, which is managed as an strict nature reserve, covers 85,370ha of land.

The protected area is located on the Bemaraha plateau at an altitude of 150 to 170m, a karst formation bounded to the east by steep cliffs and to the west by gentle slopes. South of the park, there is a formation of pinnacles ~~which~~ where access is extremely difficult. In the north rolling hills alternate with limestone formations.

[[File:Tsingy_de_Bemaraha_IMG_4938.jpg|600px]]

The Bemaraha Park is located north of the Manombolo River. The rivers coming from the plateau have a seasonal or permanent character.

The Bemaraha Massif is a very rugged limestone massif with numerous caves and an impressive canyon carved by the Manambolo River. The western part of the plateau has a very sharp relief, covered in large parts by dense dry forest. ~~That is a~~ This true limestone cathedral ~~which~~ offers one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the world. ! In the eastern part, the forest is intersected by savannas.

The karstic massif of Bemaraha offers a variety of natural habitats ~~which are~~ with many different ecosystems , such as dense deciduous forest, bushy xerophytic vegetation on the tsingy (limestone plateau) and sub-humid forest in the valleys or low-laying wet areas between limestone blocks as well as wooded or grassy savanna.

The park is home to lemurs, terrestrial and aquatic birds, bats, amphibians, reptiles, endemic mammals and at least 650 plant species.

The population is predominantly [[Sakalava~~. It is~~ ]], an ethnic group ~~that has a conservative nature and protects it~~ who live according their strict traditions protected by regulations using the ''[[fady]]'' (ban or taboo).

The park enjoys a dry tropical climate marked by two contrasting seasons: Rainy from November to April and dry ~~between~~ from May ~~and~~ to October. The opening of the park depends on the accessibility of the dirt road connecting Morondava and Bekopaka, usually from May to November. There are various ways ~~how to get~~ to reach the park:

'''By car (4x4)'''<br>

* [[Antananarivo]] - [[Morondava]] (600km) and then Morondava - [[Belo sur Tsiribihina]] - [[Bekopaka]] (south entrance of the park): 200km along a dirt road, 4x4 is recommended for this 8 hours stretch with at least 1 hour by ferry along the Tsiribihina River (100km north of Morondava).

* Antananarivo - [[Antsalova]] (700km): 200km paved road to [[Tsiroanomandidy]], between [[Beravina]] and [[Morafeno]] (crossing of the [[Bongolava]] mountains) in very bad condition for over 80km. Thereafter Antsalova - Bekopaka: 100km secondary road, 4 hours by 4x4, usually accessible from May to November.

'''By [[taxi-brousse]]'''<br>

'''By boat'''<br>

* From [[Ankavandra]] 3 to 4 days ~~sailing with a~~ by pirogue along the Manambolo River until Bekopaka. Ankavandra is only accessible by [[Private_Charter_Flights|plane]].

* From [[Miandrivazo]] 3 days by motorised pirogue down the Tsiribihina River until reaching Belo sur Tsiribihina. Thereafter along the road: Belo sur Tsiribihina - Bekopaka (100km, 4 hours by 4x4).

== Management and Classification ==

In 1927, thanks to the biological, geological and archaeological characteristics of the Antsingy, the area was classified as Nature Reserve No. 9. Thereafter it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990 and National Cultural Heritage Site in 1991. In August 1997, a part of the reserve was changed to national park status to allow the development of ecotourism.

Referring to the international classification of the protected area, following the categorisation by the

Within the western ecoregion, Bemaraha is a centre of endemism both for flora and fauna. It is one of the protected areas that is the richest in faunistic species and especially in karstic ecosystems (in the western ecoregion).

The protected area of Tsingy de Bemaraha ~~complex~~ also plays an important ecological role in the wider region. It is a water source for the entire downstream part of the Bemaraha plateau, especially at the level of the Manambolomaty lakes complex (one of the three RAMSAR sites in Madagascar - wetlands of international importance) and at the level of the rice granary of the region: Lake Bemamba.

The rivers draining the Antsingy are permanent streams. It is not the rivers or streams originating in the Antsingy that are responsible for this ecological function but it is the forest cover on limestone plateau. It retains the rainwater and then allows it to infiltrate little by little and feed the springs throughout the year.

== Conservation targets ==

Endemic species require specific conservation actions as they are subject to pressure. They are key elements in the protected area and are referred to as "conservation targets".

For the protected area of Tsingy de Bemaraha ~~complex~~ they are:

* '''Fauna species'''

* '''Habitats'''

** dense dry forest on limestone plateau: Highly fragmented forest formation; tpyical vegetation on karst (very fragile); natural habitat of many wildlife species

** water system: The water system that drains the Antsingy has positive impacts on the ecological balance of the region~~, but currently there is a slight decrease in water regime~~

Note: Plant species are not to be considered as conservation targets in their own right, as it is better to manage forest habitats to conserve plant species rather than to manage them individually.

=== Lemurs ===

[[File:Tsingy_de_Bemaraha_IMG_4806.jpg|600px]]

Different research has identified a total of 11 lemur species:

<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>Indriidae</td>

<td>''Propithecus ~~deckeni~~deckenii''</td><td>[[Van der Decken's sifaka]]</td>

<td>Sifaka</td>

<td>regionally endemic</td></tr></table>

=== Reptiles ===

[[File:Tsingy_de_Bemaraha_IMG_4715.jpg|600px]]

Bemaraha is the richest in reptile and amphibian species of all the deciduous forests in western Madagascar.

'''Iguanas / Lizards:'''

[[File:Tsingy_de_Bemaraha_IMG_4617.jpg|600px]]

<tr bgcolor="#dccbb3" valign="top"><td>Family</td>

<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>Opluridae</td>

<td>''Oplurus cuvieri''</td>

<td>[[Cuvier's Madagascar swift]] or Madagascan collared iguana</td>

<td>Androngovato</td>

<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>Opluridae</td>

<td>''Oplurus cyclurus''</td>

<td>[[Merrem's Madagascar swift]]</td>

<td>endemic</td></tr>

<td>endemic</td></tr></table>

=== ~~Moths /~~ Butterflies (diurnal) === [[File:Tsingy_de_Bemaraha_IMG_4909.jpg|600px]]

<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>Callinduridae</td>

<td>''Griveaudia vieui''</td>

<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>Hesperiidae</td>

<td>''~~Pamara nasa~~ Parnara naso poutieri''</td><td>~~Small branded~~ African straight or Straight swift ~~or Lesser millet skipper~~ </td>

<tr bgcolor="#eadece" valign="top"><td>Hesperiidae</td>

<td>''Pelopidas mathias''</td>

<td> ~~ ~~ Dark small-branded swift, Small branded swift or Lesser millet skipper</td>