Marojejy National Park
Marojejy National Park | |
---|---|
Sava region, Madagascar | |
Nearest city | Andapa and Sambava |
Coordinates | 14°27′S 49°42′E / 14.450°S 49.700°E |
Area | 55,500 ha (214 sq mi)[1] |
Established | 1952 1998 (National Park)[2] | (Natural Reserve)
Governing body | Madagascar National Parks |
World Heritage site | 2007 |
www |
Marojejy National Park (
The wide range of elevations and rugged topography of the massif create diverse habitats that transition quickly with changes in altitude. Warm, dense
One path leads from the entrance of the park to the summit. There are three camps along the route: Camp Mantella at 450 m (1,480 ft) in elevation in lowland rainforest, Camp Marojejia at 775 m (2,543 ft) at the transition between lowland and montane rain forest, and Camp Simpona at 1,250 m (4,100 ft) in the middle of the montane rainforest. Camp Simpona acts as a base camp for the trek to the summit, a route that stretches 2 km (1.2 mi) and can take up to four or five hours to traverse.
History
Marojejy National Park is located in the northeast of Madagascar between the towns of
Marojejy was set aside as one of Madagascar's strict nature reserves in 1952 largely due to Humbert's enthusiasm and support. Under this protection, only research scientists were permitted to visit the site.[2][8] In 1998, Marojejy was converted into a national park and thus became open to visitors.[2]
Originally seen as a transition zone between the eastern rainforests and the central highlands, Marojejy is now recognized as having its own unique features, with some of the richest biodiversity on the island.[11] Several studies from the early 1970s through the 1990s surveyed the mountain ecosystems and inventoried the flora and fauna.[12] In 2007, Marojejy was listed as a World Heritage Site as part of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana.[13] Due to illegal logging and trafficking of valuable hardwoods, and especially after the 2009 political crisis in Madagascar, the Rainforests of the Atsinanana was added to the list of World Heritage in Danger in 2010.[14]
Park boundaries and size
The boundaries of Marojejy National Park were originally established by approximation when the park was established in 1952. With a second decree (no. 66-242) from the government of Madagascar in 1966, the park's status as a strict nature reserve was reaffirmed, and its boundaries were marked by 89 points. From these markers, the size of the park was estimated at 60,150 ha (232.2 sq mi). At the time, two families were living 450 m (1,480 ft) within the park boundaries, which initially was permitted under the conditions that they did not extend their cultivated land into the park or allow others to join them. The families were later expelled for violating these conditions. Many families from the local communities did not understand why such a large area so rich in resources and necessary for their survival was forbidden to them, and between the late 1980s and 1993, they stopped honoring the status of the park. They began clearing the outer edges of the reserve to start plantations of vanilla and coffee. In 1993, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Service des Eaux et Forêts renewed conservation efforts in the area, evicted the people living inside the reserve, and renegotiated the borders with the local community, based on the 1966 decree. Trails and posts were then used to clearly mark the edges of the reserve.[15] In the years following these events, many communities living near the borders of the park have become more involved in forest surveillance, and deforestation has fallen off sharply to only a few hectares a year.[16]
In 1998, the WWF requested that the government of Madagascar relax the restrictions on the reserve to allow for
During October 2005, reports surfaced showing that boundary markers were being moved with the approval of park employees and that areas within the park were being cleared for agriculture. In January 2006, the Park Logistics Coordinator was fired for moving boundary markers while employed as the Park Conservation Agent and selling the 9 ha (0.035 sq mi) of park land to a local farmer for 2 million Malagasy francs (~US$200).[18] In 2010, a new demarcation adjusted the size the park down to 55,500 ha (214 sq mi).[1]
Topography and habitat
Marojejy National Park covers 55,500 ha (214 sq mi) and protects almost the entire massif, which ranges in elevation from 75 to 2,132 m (246 to 6,995 ft) at the summit.
Temperatures in the region are fairly constant, with both the daily temperature range and the seasonal range varying only slightly. February is the hottest month, averaging 25 °C (77 °F), while August is the coolest, averaging 19 °C (66 °F).
Both temperature and rainfall vary significantly by location within the park. Lower temperatures are found at higher elevations,[20] and the eastern slopes of the massif receive the most of the rainfall, since the western slopes lie in the rain shadow of the mountain and consequently experience a prolonged dry period.[20][21] The tops of the ridges experience strong winds and offer poor soil conditions. The effect can be seen in the plant life and their growth rates. The wide range in elevations and the rugged topography also play a crucial role in creation of the varied habitats distributed across the mountain slopes by affecting air temperature, fluctuations in temperature, and humidity levels. The interplay between these factors impacts the growth and development of plants, which form the foundation of the ecosystem. The result is an extremely varied and unevenly distributed forest that covers 90% of the park.[21]
The mountains of both Marojejy and nearby
Geology
As with the rest of Madagascar, the rocks of Marojejy National Park were once part of the supercontinent of Gondwana, which began to break up 160 million years ago to form the southern continents.[26] However, the bedrock of Marojejy formed over 500 million years ago during the Precambrian beneath an ancient mountain range that has since eroded away completely.[20][26] The bedrock is composed mostly of granitic rocks, although it also contains a significant amount of gneiss,[17][20][27] a high-grade metamorphic rock that formed under high pressure and temperature deep beneath the ancient mountain range. In places where heat and pressure were highest, the rock melted completely and eventually recrystallized at depth as granite, an igneous rock.[26] Later, veins of quartz formed in cracks in the bedrock; these are the source of the quartz and amethyst crystals mined in the region today. In more recent geological times, the area's abundant quartzite formed when quartz-rich sands were deposited on the bedrock, and were then buried and recrystallized (metamorphosed).[26] The soil pH is expected to be acidic to neutral.[28]
The highest, most rugged peaks of Marojejy owe their form to the gneiss from which they are made. The gneiss consists of alternating bands of light and dark colored minerals. The light minerals, consisting mostly of quartz and feldspar, are the hardest and most resistant, whereas the dark minerals, which are mostly biotite mica and hornblende, are softer and weather out faster.[26] This layered composition, in combination with the north-facing 45-degree angle at which the rocks are tilted, accounts for the asymmetric character of the peaks. The northern slopes dip moderately, while the southern faces are typically near-vertical cliffs where the rocks fractured counter to the layered grain.[17][26] The cliff named Ambatotsondrona, with its sheer, south-facing rock wall, is an example.[26]
Biodiversity
Marojejy National Park is noted for its rich biodiversity, which can appeal to both scientist and ecotourist.[2][29] There are a wide range of habitats within the park, and many of its plants and animals are endemic to the area.[21] Scientific expeditions regularly discover species that are either not previously documented in Marojejy, or in some cases, completely new to science. Some new species are highly endangered. In the case of many large groups, such as invertebrates, very little is known and much remains to be discovered.[30]
Flora
The vegetation of Marojejy National Park is extremely diverse due to the various microclimates. The microclimates also affect plant growth rates, with the wet eastern slopes showing faster plant growth, the dry western slopes exhibiting slower plant growth, and the plants on the ridge tops hindered by high winds and poor soils.
There are four basic types of forest found at Marojejy:[17][21]
- Lowland rainforest: Below 800 m (2,600 ft),Myrsinaceae. The most common families of plants in the light groundcover are Poaceae, Labiaceae, Acanthaceae, Gesneriaceae, Melastomataceae, and Balsaminaceae. The lowland rainforest region covers 38% of the surface area of the park.[17]
- Moist montane rainforest: Between 800 and 1,400 m (2,600 and 4,600 ft) and also covering 38% of the surface area of the park,[17][21] trees and shrubs become increasingly smaller due to lower temperatures and poorer soils,[21] and tree ferns become more abundant as elevation increases.[22] The lower temperatures cause moisture to condense onto surfaces without forming mist.[32] The transition between the lowland rainforests and the mid-altitude rainforest is gradual.[22] The canopy reaches heights of 18–25 m (59–82 ft),[17][21] and sun-loving epiphytes, shrubs, and other forest floor species take advantage of the elevated light levels. The increased humidity also favors mosses and ferns.[21] The families Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Myrtaceae, Arecaceae, Pandanaceae, and Burseraceae are the most common in this zone.[17]
- Sclerophyllous montane cloudforest: At 1,400 to 1,800 m (4,600 to 5,900 ft) and covering 11.5% of the surface area of the park, the trees are significantly shorter, gnarled and stunted, with the canopy extending to a maximum height of only 10 or 15 m (33 or 49 ft).[21][22][33] The most common plant families are Lauraceae, Rubiaceae, Clusiaceae, and Araliaceae.[33] The ground layer in the cloud forest is rich, and moss and lichen drape the branches of the trees.[21][22] At least 122 species of fern are found in this zone.[33] Temperatures are lower, and heavy clouds brought in by eastern winds blanket the forest.[21] Endemism is very high at this altitude, particularly between the various peaks due to long isolation. The area is also highly susceptible to fire due to its thick layer of humus.[34]
- Montane scrub: Above 1,800 m (5,900 ft) on only 1.5% of the surface area of the park, the last remaining mountain scrub in Madagascar can be found. Unlike all other high mountain scrub on the island, it has not been altered by fire.[17][21] The region has an open, tundra-like cover, over thin, rocky soils. Soil conditions, along with the cool temperatures, windy conditions, and low rainfall limits the vegetation,[21] which reaches a maximum height of 2 m (6.6 ft).[31] Low, dense thickets of shrubs dominate, although terrestrial orchids and miniature palms and bamboos are also present.[21] The dominant families of plant are Poaceae, Ericaceae, Asteraceae, Balsaminaceae, Cunoniaceae, and Clusiaceae.[31]
Of the many plant species found in Marojejy, 35 are palms, several of which are
Marojejy also contains several types of rare rosewood and palisandre (genus Dalbergia), all of which are endemic to Madagascar.[29] Rosewood, or andramena in Malagasy, is a type of hardwood with a lustrous deep red color, while palisandre, such as Dalbergia madagascariensis, lacks the red color. Of the three species of Dalbergia found in Marojejy, D. madagascariensis and D. baronii are listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List, while D. louvelii is listed as "endangered." The park has few large specimens of the former two due to overexploitation, and specimens are rarely found in the surrounding 5 km (3.1 mi) surrounding the park. The latter, D. louvelii, is not found outside of the park.[35]
Fauna
Marojejy National Park is best known for its two iconic species, the helmet vanga (Euryceros prevostii)[17][36] and the critically endangered silky sifaka or simpona (Propithecus candidus).[22][29][37] The silky sifaka has been listed as one of "The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates" since the inception of the list in 2000.[38] According to estimates, fewer than 1,000 individuals of this species remain, and none exist in captivity.[30]
The wealth of species of well-known groups of animals demonstrates the depth of the biodiversity found at Marojejy National Park. For example, 75 of the 118 species of
In addition to the silky sifaka, Marojejy is home to 10 other species of
The
Camps and accommodations
Marojejy National Park is open all year, with
[44] The park is unable to accommodate large groups.[46] Because of the rugged terrain and variable temperatures, the Bradt Travel Guide also recommended advanced planning for visiting the park.[36]
Payment of the entrance fees, renting of the facilities, and hiring of guides, cooks, and porters are handled at either the park headquarters in Andapa or the Park Visitor Center in Manantenina, which is along the main Andapa-Sambava road, 66 km (41 mi) from Sambava and 40 km (25 mi) from Andapa.[45][47] The park has a single trail that leads from the information center in Manantenina to the highest peak.[46][48] The path into the rain forest is divided into three treks that vary in length and lead to each of the three main camps,[44] each of which is situated at different altitudes and offer views of their own distinctive flora and fauna.[36][47]
The first section of the path, known as the Mantella Trek, takes visitors just inside the park entrance, and leads to a picnic area after the first 2.5 km (1.6 mi). The first camp, Camp Mantella, is 4.5 km (2.8 mi) further along the path.
The next 2 km (1.2 mi) along the path is known as the Simpona Trek; the name comes from the Malagasy name for the silky sifaka, which is found in the area.[44] The trail leads to Camp Marojejia, located at an elevation of 775 m (2,543 ft) at the transition between lowland and montane rain forest.[44][45][49] The camp sits on a mountainside, and its dining area overlooks a forested outcrop of rock, which includes the peak named Ambatotsondrona, or "Leaning Rock".[44][49] This camp is reported to be the best location for spotting the silky sifaka,[45] although the staff recommend that visitors hire a specialist tracker to aid in the search.[44]
The Marojejy Summit Trek continues up the mountain for another 2 km (1.2 mi) to Camp Simpona,
Local people
The Andapa Basin, surrounded by the high, rugged mountains of Marojejy and Anjanaharibe-Sud, was extremely remote and difficult to access until relatively recently. As a consequence, the area was not permanently settled until the mid-1800s, when refugees fled the
The local people have traditionally utilized material from the forest, whether for use in their
Not only have international environmental organizations (such as Conservation International, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wide Fund for Nature, and Care International) established programs to help local residents, many local people work to improve their situation through environmental and health education programs. An increase in sustainable agriculture, silviculture, conservation awareness, and improved education and health care have also furthered the goal of protecting the environment and promoting livelihoods centered on the remaining forest. Limited and responsible ecotourism is also seen as a long-term alternative to continued deforestation.[51]
Conservation concerns
The protections normally afforded to
Illegal logging
Madagascar's northeastern rain forests are severely threatened by illegal logging of precious hardwood, which not only dries out the forest (making it susceptible to fire), introduces invasive species, degrades habitat, and reduces genetic diversity, but also violates local taboos and traditions.[29] Additional species, such as species of Dombeya, are typically cut to make rafts for floating the heavier hardwoods down rivers and out of the parks.[55] Rosewood trees are cut into multiple logs for easier transport,[35] and five or more high-buoyancy trees are cut per hardwood log. To tie the rafts together, the loggers cut thousands of lianas or vines,[55] which are used by 75% of the forest fauna as avenues for moving around in the canopy.[56] The logging activities are labor-intensive and dangerous. The labor employs the impoverished local population, but the officials who facilitate the process primarily benefit.[29]
In 2005, illegal logging of rosewood was reported to have occurred more than 20 times.
Illegal logging has been facilitated by insufficient governance, unclear forest regulation, and undermined judicial control while the exportation of the acquired logs (in 1992, 2006, and 2009–2010) has been permitted by government decrees that either precede elections or are issued during periods of political instability.[58] The trade is organized and operated by high-ranking officials and influential businessmen.[61] Additionally, the trade in Malagasy rosewood is not regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).[62]
References
- ^ a b "Marojejy". Madagascar National Parks. Archived from the original on 12 May 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Atkinson & Mathieu 2008, p. 2.
- ^ "Marojejy National Park - Introduction". www.marojejy.com. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
- ^ Hendry, Erica R. "Saving the Silky Sifaka". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
- ^ "Marojejy National Park - How You Can Help". www.marojejy.com. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
- ^ Goodman 2000, p. 14.
- ^ a b c d e f g Garreau & Manantsara 2003, p. 1452.
- ^ Evans 1990, p. 15.
- ^ Humbert 1955, p. 7.
- ^ Garreau & Manantsara 2003, p. 1451.
- ^ Garreau & Manantsara 2003, pp. 1452–1453.
- ^ IUCN (2007). "Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar) — ID No. 1257" (PDF). World Heritage Nomination – IUCN Technical Evaluation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
- ^ "World Heritage Committee inscribes Rainforests of Atsinanana (Madagascar) on List of World Heritage in Danger". World Heritage Convention. 2010. Archived from the original on 17 January 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ Garreau & Manantsara 2003, pp. 1453–1454.
- ^ Garreau & Manantsara 2003, pp. 1456–1457.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Garreau & Manantsara 2003, p. 1454.
- ^ "News Updates: Marojejy National Park". The Friends of Marojejy National Park. January 2006. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ a b c Safford & Duckworth 1990, p. 5.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Atkinson & Mathieu 2008, p. 13.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Atkinson & Mathieu 2008, p. 3.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Preston-Mafham 1991, p. 213.
- ^ Garreau & Manantsara 2003, p. 1458.
- ^ Safford & Duckworth 1990b, p. 17.
- ^ Garreau & Manantsara 2003, pp. 1451–1452.
- ^ a b c d e f g Atkinson & Mathieu 2008, p. 14.
- ^ Goodman 2000, p. 15.
- ^ Safford 1990, p. 19.
- ^ a b c d e f g Patel 2007, p. 11.
- ^ a b c d e Atkinson & Mathieu 2008, p. 4.
- ^ a b c Garreau & Manantsara 2003, p. 1455.
- ^ a b Safford 1990, p. 20.
- ^ a b c Garreau & Manantsara 2003, pp. 1454–1455.
- ^ Safford 1990, pp. 20–21.
- ^ a b c Patel 2007, p. 12.
- ^ a b c d e f g Bradt 2007, p. 345.
- ^ a b Mittermeier et al. 2010, p. 655.
- ^ Patel 2009, pp. 23–26.
- ^ Sterling & McFadden 2000, pp. 269–270.
- ^ Goodman & Jenkins 2000, p. 201.
- ^ Carleton & Goodman 2000, p. 231.
- ^ Patel 2009, p. 24.
- ^ Bradt 2007, p. 343.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Atkinson & Mathieu 2008, p. 5.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mittermeier et al. 2010, p. 656.
- ^ a b Bradt 2007, p. 344.
- ^ a b Atkinson & Mathieu 2008, pp. 5–6.
- ^ a b c Atkinson & Mathieu 2008, p. 6.
- ^ a b Bradt 2007, pp. 345–346.
- ^ a b c d e Bradt 2007, pp. 346–347.
- ^ a b c d e Atkinson & Mathieu 2008, p. 15.
- ^ "Madagascar: Rice is 'becoming a luxury'". World News. 15 February 2011. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- ^ a b Atkinson & Mathieu 2008, p. 16.
- ^ a b Garreau & Manantsara 2003, p. 1457.
- ^ a b Randriamalala & Liu 2010a, p. 13.
- ^ Randriamalala & Liu 2010a, p. 20.
- ^ Randriamalala & Liu 2010a, p. 12.
- ^ a b Randriamalala & Liu 2010a, p. 11.
- ^ Mittermeier et al. 2010, p. 657.
- ^ Randriamalala & Liu 2010b, p. 32.
- ^ Patel 2007, p. 16.
- ^ Patel 2007, p. 15.
Literature cited
- Atkinson, Paul; Mathieu, Eric (2008). "Welcome to Marojejy and Anjanaharibe-Sud: A collection of information for visitors to Marojejy National Park and Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve, Madagascar" (PDF). Marojejy National Park. pp. 1–28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- Bradt, Hilary (2007). Madagascar: The Bradt Travel Guide (9th ed.). Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 343–347. ISBN 978-1-84162-197-5.
- Garreau, J.-M.; Manantsara, A. (2003). "The protected area complex of the Parc National de Marojejy and the Réserve Spéciale de Anjanaharibe-Sud". In Goodman, S.M.; Benstead, J.P. (eds.). The Natural History of Madagascar. University of Chicago Press. pp. 1451–1458. ISBN 0-226-30306-3.
- Goodman, Steven M., ed. (2000). "A floral and faunal inventory of the Parc National de Marojejy, Madagascar: with reference to elevational variation". Fieldiana Zoology. 97. Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History. ISSN 0015-0754.
- Goodman, Steven M. (2000). "Chapter 1: Description of the Parc National de Marojejy, Madagascar, and the 1996 biological inventory of the reserve": 1–18.
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(help) - Goodman, Steven M.; Jenkins, Paulina D. (2000). "Chapter 11: Tenrecs (Lipotyphla: Tenrecidae) of the Parc National de Marojejy, Madagascar": 201–230.
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(help) - Carleton, Michael D.; Goodman, Steven M. (2000). "Chapter 12: Rodents of the Parc National de Marojejy, Madagascar": 231–264.
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(help) - Sterling, Eleanor; McFadden, Karen (2000). "Chapter 13: Rapid census of lemur populations in the Parc National de Marojejy, Madagascar": 265–274.
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(help)
- Goodman, Steven M. (2000). "Chapter 1: Description of the Parc National de Marojejy, Madagascar, and the 1996 biological inventory of the reserve": 1–18.
- Humbert, Henri (1955). Une merveille de la nature à Madagascar. Première exploration botanique du massif du Marojejy et de ses satellites. Série B, Biologie Végétale 6 (in French). Mémoires de l'Institut Scientifique de Madagascar. pp. 1–210.
- OCLC 670545286.
- Patel, E.R. (2009). ISBN 978-1-934151-34-1. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2011-07-23.
- Patel, Erik R. (2007). "Logging of rare rosewood and palisandre (Dalbergia spp.) within Marojejy National Park, Madagascar". Madagascar Conservation & Development. 2 (1): 11–16. hdl:10535/6813.
- Preston-Mafham, Ken (1991). Madagascar: A Natural History. Facts on File. ISBN 978-0-8160-2403-2.
- Randriamalala, Hery; Liu, Zhou (2010a). "Rosewood of Madagascar: Between democracy and conservation" (PDF). Madagascar Conservation & Development. 5 (1): 11–22. S2CID 202842492. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 August 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- Randriamalala, Hery; Liu, Zhou (2010b). "Bois de rose de Madagascar: Entre démocratie et protection de la nature" (PDF). Madagascar Conservation & Development (in French). 5 (Suppl 1): 1–56. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- Safford, Roger J.; Duckworth, Will, eds. (1990). A Wildlife Survey of Marojejy Nature Reserve, Madagascar. Study Report No. 40. International Council for Bird Preservation. pp. 1–184.
- Safford, Roger J.; Duckworth, Will (1990). Abstract. pp. 5–6.
- Evans, M. I. (1990). History of scientific work in Marojejy. pp. 15–16.
- Safford, Roger J.; Duckworth, Will (1990b). Timing of the survey. pp. 17–18.
- Safford, Roger J. (1990). Physical and vegetational profile of Marojejy. pp. 19–21.
External links
- Duke Lemur SAVA Conservation
- Lemur Conservation Foundation
- Angels of the Forest Marojejy Film
- Trouble in Lemur Land by Earth Touch - Documentary film in HD about silky sifaka lemurs and illegal rosewood logging
- Dan Rather Reports Marojejy Documentary – a professional 50 minute HD film about illegal rosewood logging in Madagascar and the impact on the silky sifaka lemur
- Carte Blanche Marojejy Documentary Part 1
- Carte Blanche Marojejy Documentary Part 2
- The Friends of Marojejy National Park – Information, photos, maps, brochures, and species lists