Marojejy National Park

Marojejy National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Marojejy Massif and the surrounding forests
Map of the Madagascar
Location	Antsiranana Province, Madagascar
Nearest city	Andapa and Sambava
Coordinates	14°27′24.26″S 49°44′15.81″E
Area	60,050 ha (231.9 sq mi)
Established	1952 (1952) (Natural Reserve) 1998 (1998) (National Park)
Governing body	Madagascar National Parks
World Heritage site	2007
www.marojejy.com

Marojejy National Park is a national park in northeastern Madagascar. It covers 60,050 ha (231.9 sq mi) and is centered around the Marojejy Massif, a tall mountain that rises to an elevation of 2,132 m (6,995 ft). The area around the massif was set aside as a strict nature reserve in 1952, allowing only research scientists to visit the site. In 1998, it was opened to the public when it was converted into a national park. In 2007, it was listed as part of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana World Heritage Site, although it is currently threatened by illegal logging, particularly since the start of the 2009 political crisis in Madagascar.

The wide range of elevations and rugged topology of the massif create diverse habitats that transition quickly with changes in altitude. Warm, evergreen rainforest can be found at lower elevations, followed by shorter forests at higher elevations, followed still by cloud forest, and topped near the peaks with the only remaining undisturbed mountain scrub in Madagascar. The eastern side of the mountain receives more rain the west side providing better growing conditions for plants. This habitat diversity lends itself to high levels of biodiversity. At least 118 species of bird, 148 species of reptile and amphibian, and 11 species of lemur are known to occur within Marojejy National Park. One of the lemurs, the silky sifaka (Propithecus candidus) is listed among "The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates".

History

Marojejy National Park is located in the northeast of Madagascar between the towns of Andapa and Sambava. It is centered around the mountain known as Marojejy Massif, which was first described in 1948 by the French botanist Henri Jean Humbert from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. Humbert had previously explored numerous mountain ranges in continental Africa before coming to Marojejy. After several expeditions, he published the book "A Marvel of Nature" in 1955, in which he claimed the massif was the most impressive range in all of Madagascar because of its size, floral diversity, and pristine natural state.

Marojejy was set aside as one of Madagascar's strict nature reserves in 1952 largely due to Humbert's enthusiasm. Under this protection, only research scientists were permitted to visit the site. In 1998, the status changed as Marojejy became a national park. As a result, the park is now open to visitors.

In 2007, Marojejy was listed as World Heritage Site as part of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana Due to illegal logging and trafficking of valuable hardwoods in 2004–2005, 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.

Topography and habitat

Marojejy National Park covers 60,050 ha (231.9 sq mi), protecting almost the entire massif, which ranges in elevation from 100 m (330 ft) to 2,132 m (6,995 ft) at the summit. Its rugged topography and sharp rise in elevation results in the presence of a variety of microclimates and a visible change in habitat, making it one of the few places in the world where cloud-covered rainforest rapidly transitions to high mountain tundra over a distance that can covered on foot.

Because they rain-bearing clouds approach from the east during the warm season, the eastern slopes of the massif receive over 3,000 mm (120 in) of rainfall yearly, making it one of the wettest areas in Madagascar. In contrast, the western slope experiences a prolonged dry period, while the tops of the ridges experience strong winds and offer poor soil conditions. The results 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.

Biodiversity

Marojejy National Park is noted for its rich biodiversity, which can appeal to both scientist and ecotourist. Because of the wide range of habitats within the park, many of its plants and animals are endemic to the area. Scientific expeditions regularly uncover new species, some of which are new to science, while others have never been documented in Marojejy. Some new species are high endangered. In the case of many large groups, such as invertebrates, very little is known and much remains to be discovered.

Flora

The vegetation of Marojejy National Park is extremely diverse due to the various microclimates, with the wet eastern slope showing faster growth, the dry western slope exhibiting slower growth due, and growth on the ridge tops hindered by high winds and poor soils. More than 2,000 plant species have been discovered at the park so far.

There are four basic types of forest found at Marojejy. These include:

• Low-Altitude Evergreen Rainforest: Below 800 m (2,600 ft), species diversity is the highest due to abundant rainfall, consistently warm weather, and protection from strong winds. The forest canopy of the primary forests is dense with tall trees reaching heights of 25–35 m (82–115 ft). A great variety of palms, ferns, and epiphytes are also present. Secondary growth, which primarily includes bamboo, wild ginger, and ravinala, is found in disturbed areas.

• Dense Montane Rainforest: Between 800 and 1,400 m (2,600 and 4,600 ft), trees and shrubs become increasingly smaller due to lower temperatures and poorer soils, and tree ferns become more abundant as elevation increases. The transition between the lowland rainforests and the mid-altitude rainforest is gradual. The canopy reaches heights of 18–25 m (59–82 ft), 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.

• High-Altitude Montane Cloudforest: At 1,400 to 1,800 m (4,600 to 5,900 ft), the trees are significantly shorter, gnarled and stunted, with the canopy extending to a maximum height of only 10 or 12 m (33 or 39 ft). The ground layer in the cloud forest is rich, and moss and lichen drape the branches of the trees. Temperatures are lower, and heavy clouds brought in by eastern winds blanket the forest.

• High-Altitude Montane Scrub: Above 1,800 m (5,900 ft), 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. 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. Low, dense thickets of shrubs dominate, although terrestrial orchids and miniature palms and bamboos are also present.

Of the many plant species found around Marojejy, 35 are palms, several of which are critically endangered and have extremely low populations. Only three of these palm species can be found outside of Madagascar, and seven can only be found at Marojejy. More than 275 fern species are present in the rainforests of the massif, 18 of which are tree ferns and seven are found only at Marojejy. Many of these fern species are very rare and have highly restricted distributions.

Fauna

The Silky Sifaka can be found in Marojejy National Park.

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 birds (64%) found in or around Marojejy are forest-dwelling birds, a total that surpasses any other mountain site in Madagascar. All of these forest-dependent bird species are endemic to Madagascar and utilize the forest for some portion of their life-cycle. One of these birds is the Madagascar Serpent-eagle (Eutriorchis astur). Marojejy is also home to 11 species of lemur, including the critically endangered silky sifaka or simpona (Propithecus candidus), which has been listed as one of "The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates" since the inception of the list in 2000. According to estimates, fewer than 1,000 individuals of this species are remain, and none exist in captivity. Several other species of lemur found at the park are also endangered due mainly to habitat loss. The reptile and amphibian diversity at Marojejy is also rich, higher than any other protected area in Madagascar. A total of 148 species have been inventoried, and 17 of these are found only in Marojejy, including Brookesia karchei and Chamaeleo peyrieresi, two species of several chameleons found there.

Camps and accommodations

Marojejy National Park offers three different camps located at different altitudes: Mantella camp at 475 m (1,558 ft), Marojejia camp at 775 m (2,543 ft), and Simpona camp at 1,275 m (4,183 ft).

Illegal logging

Main article: Illegal logging in Madagascar

It was estimated that between 23 325 and 46 650 trees of Rosewood were gunned down illegally in national parks Marojejy and Masoala for 2009. The year 2010 was marked by the intensification of cuts but rather in the Masoala National Park and the Makira Protected Area.

References

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". Marojejy National Park. pp. 1–28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

• 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.

• Goodman, S.M.; Benstead, J.P., eds. (2003). The Natural History of Madagascar. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-30306-3.

• Garreau, J.-M.; Manantsara, A. (2003). "The protected area complex of the Parc National de Marojejy and the Réserve Spéciale de Anjanaharibe-Sud". pp. 1451–1458. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)

• 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.

• Sterling, Eleanor; McFadden, Karen (2000). "Rapid census of lemur populations in the Parc National de Marojejy, Madagascar": 265–274. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help)

• Preston-Mafham, Ken (1991). Madagascar: A Natural History. Facts on File. ISBN 978-0816024032. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

• Mittermeier, R.A.; Louis, E.E.; Richardson, M.; Schwitzer, C.; et al. (2010). Lemurs of Madagascar. Illustrated by S.D. Nash (3rd ed.). Conservation International. ISBN 978-1-934151-23-5. OCLC 670545286.

• Patel, E.R. (2009). Mittermeier, R.A.; Wallis, J.; Rylands, A.B.; Ganzhorn, J.U.; Oates, J.F.; Williamson, E.A.; Palacios, E.; Heymann, E.W.; Kierulff, M.C.M.; Long Yongcheng; Supriatna, J.; Roos, C.; Walker, S.; Cortés-Ortiz, L.; Schwitzer, C. (eds.). "Primates in Peril: The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates 2008–2010" (PDF). Illustrated by S.D. Nash. Arlington, VA.: IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG), International Primatological Society (IPS), and Conservation International (CI): 23–26. ISBN 978-1-934151-34-1. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help)

• Patel, Erik R. (2007). "Logging of Rare Rosewood and Palisandre (Dalbergia spp.) within Marojejy National Park, Madagascar" (PDF). Madagascar Conservation & Development. 2 (1): 11–16. Retrieved 30 January 2011. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

• Randriamalala, Hery; Liu, Zhou (2010a). "Rosewood of Madagascar: Between democracy and conservation" (PDF). Madagascar Conservation & Development. 5 (1): 11–22. Retrieved 30 January 2011. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

• 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. Retrieved 30 January 2011. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)