Management

Ambohitantely was established in 1982 .
 An agreement was signed in 1987 between ESSA-Forêts and the Ministry of Waters and Forests. They established the Reserve as an ESSA-Forêts site meant for applied research and training. ANGAP is now responsible for managing the Reserve. A number of research projects have been undertaken in the past 10 years, mostly conducted in the botanical garden. These include phenological studies and permanent forest plots set up to monitor forest dynamics across sylvicultural treatments

Facilities have been set by ANGAP and ESSA-Forêts to receive visitors in Ambohitantely. Given the proximity of the site to Antananarivo and easy access for students and faculty from the School of Agronomy, fuller commitment can be anticipated in the future. The few remaining patches of Central Highland forest are rapidly declining, mostly through the repeated grass fires along fragment edges. This site is beginning to be known as a natural laboratory for understanding the effect of forest fragmentation on biodiversity.

Accessibility

The reserve is accessible most of the year. Ambohitantely can get quite cold, and from November to March, it is windy. Facilities are very limited in the reserve--you can get more information from the park office. Camping is possible, although there is a simple hotel in Firarazana. 

The camp site has a toilet and a shelter where cooking and eating can take place. This spot has a superb view of the forest.

Orchid found growing in the undergrowth

Polybothris Jewel beetle in the forest.

This superb place needs all the protection that it can get. It is the last Madagascar transitional forest (Between the wet eastern rainforest and the dry deciduous forests of the west.) to be found on the highlands. And that means the last on earth of this specific type of forest.

Frogs in Ambohitantely

Probably Boophis tephraeomystax

Damastes sp in Ambohitantely

Threats and Opportunities

Little effort has been made to help the local residents manage the forests sustainably. In part this is because the villages are relatively far from the protected area. Livestock rearing and irrigated rice cultures are the main activities of villagers surrounding the Reserve. Repeated fire to increase grazing lands, overgrazing, and illegal timber harvesting are the main threats to Ambohitantely Forest Reserve.