Special Reserve · Melaky Region · North-West Madagascar · Protected Areas of Madagascar
Bemarivo
Special Reserve
A dry and sub-humid forest reserve in the Melaky Region of western Madagascar — sheltering seven lemur species and a plant found nowhere else on Earth, 12 kilometres from Besalampy.
About the protected area
A special reserve of the western dry lands
The Bemarivo Special Reserve is situated in the Melaky Region of western Madagascar, 12 kilometres from the town of Besalampy along a secondary road. It was established in 1956 and is managed by the Ministry of Environment, Ecology and Forests, which maintains a Regional Directorate in Maintirano. Further protected areas across Madagascar can be found on the Maison de Madagascar website.
The reserve is also accessible from Mahajanga by taking the ferry to Katsepy, then following the RNT19 to Soalala and continuing south for 140 km. No visitor infrastructure currently exists within the protected area itself.
The reserve has no on-site facilities. All enquiries should be directed to the Ministry's Regional Directorate in Maintirano.
Fauna and Flora
Dry and sub-humid forest, with a single global endemic
Dense dry forest and sub-humid forest dominate the reserve, except in the central and southern parts. These forests are composed of Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, and Salicaceae. In the centre and south, secondary grasslands interspersed with riparian forest give way to stands of Bismarckia nobilis.
A single plant species — Microsteria perrieri (Malpighiaceae) — is known only from Bemarivo, making it one of the reserve's most significant botanical records.
Threats and Pressures
Forest loss and encroachment
Forest loss is the primary threat facing the Bemarivo Special Reserve, driven by shifting cultivation practised by communities living within and around the reserve boundaries. Human settlement inside the protected area compounds this pressure significantly.
Fires are detected between July and September each year, spreading through the grasslands and pasture areas of the reserve.
Identified threats
Location
Western Madagascar, Melaky Region
The Bemarivo Special Reserve lies 12 kilometres from Besalampy along a secondary road. It is also reachable from Mahajanga via the Katsepy ferry and the RNT19 to Soalala, then 140 km south. All enquiries should be directed to the Ministry's Regional Directorate in Maintirano.