Marojejy National Park

Marojejy National Park is located in the SAVA region in the northeast of Madagascar. Geographically the park lays between the Androranga river valley to the north and the Lokoho river to the south, the Andapa basin to the west and coastal plains and foothills to the east. Marojejy National Park is characterised by its impressive massif, its primary forest that covers almost the entire site and its great richness in biodiversity and endemic species.

Marojejy National Park was classified as a Natural Reserve in 1952, as a National Park in 1998 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. The park covers an area of 60,050ha at an altitude of 2,132m.

The predominant climate of Marojejy is tropical humid with an average annual rainfall of 1,936mm, with the maximum between November and June. The altitude plays an important role in the variation of the climate. The rainfall is higher in altitude and more irregular and less in the north and northwest. In the lowland the average temperatures are about 22.3°C in July and 26.9°C in February, while on the Marojejy peaks they can drop to 1.5°C in the winter months.

Two types of soil in Marojejy: Ferralitic soils at lower elevations and sandy peat soils beyond 1,800m. The park is dominated by a granite massif characterised by very rugged forest reliefs. It has a complex shape comprising a succession of parallel or divergent ridges from many sharp peaks with steep and irregular slopes.

The Marojejy National Park with its heavy rainfalls has a very branched and deeply embedded river system. This corresponds to powerful mountain stream characteristics with very steep gradients and a predominance of large boulders in the river beds. This river system consists of several rivers having their source in the park, of which the eight most important are: Andranomadio, Andranomifototra, Manantenina, Sambava, Soahitra, Andrahanjo, Andalangy and Antsaberaoka.

The dominant ethnic group in the area is Tsimihety.

65km from Sambava along the tarred RN3B, the Marojejy National Park office can be found 200m before Manantenina. From thereon a 2.7km secondary road leads to the village of Mandena. From Mandena it is a 2.9km walk along a trail to the park entrance.

The approximate travel time by car from Antananarivo to the park is about three days. The first stretch goes along the RN4, thereafter along the RN6 (poorer condition) until Ambilobe, where the road splits direction Vohemar. This road is not passable during the rainy season from December to April! On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday a taxi-brousse leaves from Antananarivo (station Andranobevava and Anosibe Angarangarana) direction Andapa. A ticket costs 80,000 Ariary (2015). Alternatively, Air Madagascar and Madagasikara Airways offer regular scheduled flights to Sambava.

Creation and Management

Before the independence of Madagascar, the Marojejy Massif had already attracted attention of the French colonial administration. On 3rd January 1952, Marojejy was classified a Natural Reserve. This status was changed to National Park on 19th May 1998. In 2007, Marojejy National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The management of the reserve has undergone successive phases:

During the first phase of the Environmental Program (1991-1998), it was jointly managed by the Forestry Department and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

During the second phase, the main operator for its management was the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), under the coordination of ANGAP.

From July 2004, this National Park is managed by ANGAP, today Madagascar National Parks, with its office in Andapa (Marojejy National Park, B.P. 19, Andapa 205, Madagascar, Tel: +261 (0)20 88 070 27).

Strategic Roles

Marojejy National Park plays a strategic role in the national network managed by Madagascar National Parks. Indeed, it is a gene pool for the network:

It is one of the two protected areas of the network which is home to the lemur Propithecus diadema candidus - Silky sifaka or "simpona malandy" in Malagasy ("simpona" = lemur and "malandy" = white). In fact, this species can be also found in the Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve, where it is endemic.

It is also a well known habitat for the bird Euryceros prevostii - Helmet vanga.

It includes a wide variety of ecosystems and habitats that characterise the high mountains of the north.

It is one of the few Malagasy mountains that still has a forest in its intact primary state (less than 1,800m).

It is a biodiversity hotspot and exceptional endemism with the largest number of species of reptiles and amphibians known in Madagascar.

The park also plays an economic role in the region:

It ensures the viability of agricultural activities of the surrounding communes through the protection of soils and drainage basins.

It is home to several rivers, of which the eight most important provide drinking water for the people of eight rural and urban communes. When water infrastructure is properly managed it is possible to water most of the 18,000ha of the Ankaibe plain.

Conservation targets

The conservation targets of Marojejy National Park are:

Dense humid forest of low altitude: A habitat which ensures the viability of species, some of which are endemic like the palm Dypsis lokohensis, Dypsis mirabilis and the fern Tectaria humbertiana.

Also home to reptiles and amphibians, such as Stumpfia sp, Boophis sp1, Boophis sp2, Uroplatus sp, Brookesia karchei, Calumna gastrotaenia, Pseudoacontiasangelorium, Geodipsas sp as well as the bird Euryceros prevostii (Helmet vanga), the emblem of Marojejy National Park.

Mountain over 1,800m: The lowland forest is the main area for local endemic species, amongst which are the ferns Blechnum longiopettiolatum, Cyathea alticola, Cheilanthès, Elaphoglossum sp, Lindsaea sp and amphibians and reptiles Mantidactylus sp, Callumna cf brevicornis, Callumna peryerasii.

Furthermore, this type of vegetation is unique as it is only found intact in Marojejy over 1,800m, despite its existence in Tsaratanana and Andringitra.

The lemur Propithecus diadema candidus (Silky sifaka), which is amongst the seven rarest species of Madagascar.

The site and local population

Unfortunately, the villagers only seek to satisfy their immediate needs even at the risk of compromising the future of these natural resources. Thus the Marojejy National Park is subjected to pressures including:

Land clearings, which are related to the extension of slash and burn, named "tavy". The selective logging of precious woods, particularly Dalbergia sp. (magnary), Eugeunia sp, tafonana, Weinmannia sp ("lalona"), Callophylum (vintanona), Phyllarthron madagascariensis ("antohiravina"). Indeed, the high demand for precious wood in the region is clearly one of the major causes for the logging as the locals are attracted by the relatively easy income.

Hunting, large lemurs such as Propithecus and Eulemurs are especially targeted by poachers. According to the Tsimihety ethnic, hunting is a common practise as lemur meat is still considered a delicacy at festivities.

Links

Marojejy in Crisis - article from 2009