About MFG

:: BETAMPONA NATURAL RESERVE

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:: Reforestation of Betampona's Zone of Protection

:: Invasive plant species - a conservation threat to Betampona

:: Restocking of black and white ruffed lemurs

Betampona Natural Reserve is a lowland rainforest located in the east coast of Madagascar 40 km north-west of Toamasina. The 2,228 hectare (5,506 acres) forest was once contiguous with the Zahamena corridor but extensive deforestation has left Betampona an isolated patch of rainforest surrounded by agriculture and degraded land. Created in 1927, Betampona was Madagascar's first protected reserve although illegal slash and burn farming did occur around and within the Reserve thereafter. The Reserve is currently estimated to be comprised of 50% primary forest, 35% recovering primary forest and 15% secondary forest.

The abrupt distinction between the the degraded land the the edge of Betampona's border is illustrated in this photo.

MFG Research Station

Rendrirendy is the small village outside of the Reserve where the MFG's Research Station is located. A former Eaux et Foret office, the site was renovated and enlarged by the MFG. Facilities for national and international researchers (some shared with MFG staff) include bungalows, campsites, an office, small library, equipment storage rooms, kitchen and small dining areas. Village housing is limited to homes for our conservation agents and their families.

Betampona is typical of other Malagasy rainforests which are characterized by a high diversity of low canopy and small girth trees as compared to the world's other rainforests. A recent study found that Betampona supports at least 244 tree species from 49 families with Euphorbiaceae the dominant family. Palms are abundant with four species that are unique to Betampona and one species, Ravenala madagasascariensis that is abundant throughout the region.

Like the majority of Madagascar's central and east coast geology, Betampona is comprised of precambrian basement metamorphic and igneous rocks. Elevation ranges from 275 to 650 meters and the topography is characterized by steep slopes. Overall the soil is nutrient poor but Armstrong (2009) found that the percent of nutrient composition varied widely throughout the Reserve. With a total of 21 streams, 13 on the southern slope and eight on the northern slope, the Reserve represents an important watershed for the region.

Betampona is encircled by nine villages that are divided into two communities. The human population is growing rapidly and, although data on the specific birth rate is not available, it likely resembles Madagascar's average of 2.6 - 2.9% (World Bank data). Population numbers for 2007 show the community of Ambodiriana at 10,812 residents and Sahambala at 16, 569 with the vast majority of the villagers dependent on producing their own food. The land surrounding the villages is in various stages of agriculture use, some fields resting fallow between plantings, some planted with trees for fruit or wood along with coffee and the rest devoted to rice grown in paddies or on steep slopes where it is known as hill rice .