Ecosystems in Madagascar
There are a variety of ecosystems in Madagascar:
TROPICAL MOIST FORESTS
SOUTHERN AND WESTERN DRY FORESTS
SECONDARY (MAN-MADE) COMMUNITIES
WETLANDS
CORAL REEFS
CHART OF PARKS AND ECOSYSTEMS
Map showing land cover / vegetation types in Madagascar
Forest types in Madagascar
TROPICAL MOIST FORESTS
Coastal Rainforest
- Elevation: Sea level
These forests are among the rarest in Madagascar. The Bradt Guide describes them as follows:
"Rooted in sand, washed with salty air, battered by cyclones, and bordering lagoons and marshes, the coastal forest harbors a very unusual community. The architecture of the forest is similar to the more widespread lowland forest, but the plants here are different: they are salt-tolerant and highly efficient at extracting water and nutrients from the shallow, porous sand beneath them."
These forests resemble the white sand or blackwater forests of the Amazon Basin and the heath forests of Southeast Asia.
Examples: Forests north of Fort Dauphin and around Antalaha/Sambava
- Elevation: 0-800 m
Lowland rainforests are Madagascar’s most biologically rich ecosystems. They are characterized by warm temperatures, near-constant humidity (around 100% year-round), over 200 cm (80 inches) of annual rainfall, and a well-developed canopy. MORE
Examples: Masoala (including Nosy Mangabe), Makira, Mananara-Nord
- Elevation: 800-1300 m
Cooler than lowland rainforests, montane rainforests have a lower canopy (18-25 m) and an abundance of epiphytes such as ferns, orchids, mosses, and lichens. Many lemurs and chameleons inhabit these forests.
Examples: Ranomafana, Andasibe-Mantadia, Montagne d'Ambre, Marojejy
- Elevation: Above 1300 m
These cool forests are often enshrouded in mist. Trees are shorter than those in lowland forests, resulting in a less-developed canopy (10 m or less). The ground is often covered in thick mosses and lichens, while epiphytes such as orchids and ferns thrive in the abundant moisture. Rapid changes in temperature and humidity characterize this ecosystem.
Examples: Marojejy, Andringitra
- Elevation: Above 1300 m
At the highest elevations of Madagascar’s tallest peaks, forests give way to a mosaic of stunted montane vegetation, lichens, peat bogs, grasses, and exposed rock. Orchids and miniature palm trees can be found in this zone.
Examples: Marojejy, Andringitra
- Elevation: 0-1000 m
Located in northwestern Madagascar, Sambirano forests serve as a transition between the island’s eastern moist forests and western dry forests. These forests, particularly at lower elevations, are highly threatened.
Examples: Lokobe, parts of the Tsaratanana Massif, region around Manangorivo
Dry Deciduous Forest
- Elevation: 0-800 m
Stretching from northwestern Madagascar to near Fort Dauphin, these seasonal forests are less diverse than their eastern counterparts but boast high levels of endemism, including many lemur species. Deciduous trees shed their leaves during the six- to eight-month dry season, then erupt in vibrant green foliage when rains return.
Examples: Kirindy, Zombitse-Vohibasia, Berenty, Bemaraha
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Within Madagascar’s dry deciduous forests, limestone pinnacle formations known as "tsingy" are found. These porous landscapes often feature well-developed caves and underground rivers, similar to formations in China and Borneo.
Examples: Ankarana, Bemaraha, Namoroka
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Visitors to Isalo will find groves of Tapia trees (Uapaca bojeri), which are resistant to frequent grass fires in the Hauts Plateaux. These trees are valued locally for their edible fruit and as habitat for wild silkworms.
Examples: Isalo
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Madagascar’s most unique forests are also some of its most endangered. Found in the arid south, these forests are dominated by plants of the Didiereaceae family, which is endemic to Madagascar. These species resemble cacti but are unrelated. Unlike cacti, Didiereaceae produce small deciduous leaves protected by sharp spines. These forests are being rapidly destroyed for charcoal and building materials.
Examples: Berenty, Beza Mahafaly, Ifaty, Cap Sainte Marie
Grasslands of the Hauts Plateaux ("Bosaka")
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The central highlands were once heavily forested, but generations of clearing for Zebu cattle and agriculture have left the landscape covered in grass.
Examples: Central plateau outside Antananarivo
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Madagascar is home to many wetland ecosystems, including lakes, marshes, swamps, and lagoons, which are particularly abundant in coastal regions and support much of the island’s birdlife.
Examples: Lake Alaotra, Baie de Baly, Tsimanampetsotsa
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Madagascar has the largest expanse of mangrove forests in the western Indian Ocean—more than 300,000 ha. Mangroves are salt-tolerant evergreen trees adapted to brackish water, growing in river deltas, estuaries, and coastal regions.
Examples: Mahajanga, Marovoay
Coral Reefs
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Madagascar has approximately 1,000 km of coral reefs, supporting turtles, sharks, and whales.
Examples: Nosy Be, Fort Dauphin, Masoala, Ifaty region