IUCN Management Category IV (Managed Nature Reserve)

Biogeographical Province Geographical Location Just west of the Sakamena River, about 35km north-east of Betioky-Sud; 23°30'S, 44°40'E. The reserve is divided into two non-contiguous parcels, one lying along the Sakamena River, the second some 5km west of the Sakamena.

Date and History of Establishment 1979; inaugurated November 1985.

Area 600ha in two parcels (one of 100ha, the second of 500 ha)

Land Tenure Government land

Altitude Approximately 100-200m

Physical Features The first (100ha) parcel borders the Sakamena River, which normally contains water during the rainy season, from November or December to March; for the rest of the year it is a dry sandy river bed (Richard et al., 1985).

Climate No information

Vegetation The first parcel consists of low gallery forest, dominated by Tamarindus indica; the second consists of spiny forest dominated by Alluaudia procera with other members of the Didiereacae and Euphorbiaceae (Richard et al., 1985).

Fauna Four lemur species are present, namely Verreaux's sifaka Propithecus verreauxi, the ring-tailed lemur, Lemur catta, the white-footed sportive lemur Lepilemur leucopus and the grey mouse lemur Microcebus murinus; the fossa Cryptoprocta ferox, an endemic Madagascan viverrid has also been recorded as well as an endemic shrew Suncus madagascariensis, and four species of tenrec, Echinops telfairi, Setifer setosus, Geogale aurita, and Tenrec ecaudatus. This is the only known site where Geogale aurita is common (M. Nicoll, in litt., 28.10.86). Thirty-eight bird species endemic to Madagascar or the Madagascan region have been recorded, including three Coua species and five Vangas. At least 18 species of reptile have been recorded, including the Radiated tortoise Geochelone radiata (V), the Madagascar side-necked turtle Erymnochelys madagascariensis (I), and Acrantophis dumerilii, an endemic boa confined to the south and south-west.

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population No information

Visitors and Visitor Facilities No information

Scientific Research and Facilities The Beza Mahafaly project is based on an Inter-University Accord between the University of Madagascar, Yale University and Washington University. One of its principal roles is to provide a site for research on the flora and fauna of the south-west of Madagascar, and on the relations between the Madagascan people and the natural environment. The importance of baseline survey work as a preliminary to more detailed studies has been emphasised (Richard et al., 1985). Up to the present, more or less detailed inventories of primates, insectivores and rodents, birds and insects, particularly Hymenoptera, have been carried out (see Fauna) along with a study of the structure and composition of the vegetation inside and outside the reserve. This last study is intended to give information on the regeneration of the natural vegetation and the impact of livestock grazing on this, with the reserve, being fenced, effectively acting as a large scale exclosure. A more detailed study of the demography and behaviour of Propithecus verreauxi in the larger parcel of the reserve was begun in 1984. Plans for further research include: a study of the ethnomedicine of the region, to be expanded to a general ethnobotanical survey of the area; extending the study of forest structure, diversity and regeneration to the second parcel; establishment of an on-site herbarium; exploration of the phenology and pollination ecology of dominant tree and shrub species in the two parcels; a study of the behavioural ecology of Lemur catta; research on the reptile community of the reserve with a detailed study of Geochelone radiata (Richard et al., 1985).

Huts for equipment and cooking.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Total

None apart from the two defined areas.

The smaller parcel is bounded by a barbed-wire fence, erected in 1979; the larger has a 3m swathe cut around it to delineate the boundaries. Opuntia has been planted to provide an effective barrier. Grids of trails have been cut within the reserve, these being 100m-to-a-side in the smaller parcel and 500m-to-a-side in the larger (Richard et al., 1985).

Management Constraints The reserve appears to be well protected at present. Cattle and goats formerly ranged throughout the forests at Beza Mahafaly; since 1979 these have been excluded from the smaller parcel by the boundary fence, though it is not clear if they still enter the larger (Richard et al., 1985).

Staff One chief warden, five permanent guards plus auxiliary guards.

Budget The Beza Mahafaly project has received financial support from WWF-US since 1980.

Local Addresses

Reserve headquarters are at Betioky-Sud.

References

Rakotomanga, P., Richard, A.F. and Sussman, R.W. (1985). Beza Mahafaly. Formation et Mesures pour la conservation. Paper given at 'Seminaire Scientifique international sur l'etat de recherche sur l'equilibre des ecosystèmes forestiers de Madagascar.' Antananarivo, October 1985.

Richard, A.F., Rakotomanga, P. and Sussman, R.W. (1985). Beza Mahafaly: recherches fondamentales et appliquées. Paper given at 'Seminaire Scientifique international sur l'etat de recherche sur l'equilibre des ecosystèmes forestiers de Madagascar.' Antananarivo, October 1985.

Date No information