Protected Areas
Detailed fire monitoring and analysis for key conservation sites across Madagascar.
Ankarafantsika
During a pilot analysis in Ankarafantsika, a team of spatial analysts, drone specialists, and plant specialists examined fire patterns and their impact on this critical dry deciduous forest. The study covers fire seasonality, frequency mapping, and habitat impact assessment across the park's 1,350 km².
| Name | Ankarafantsika |
| Area | 1,350 km² (520 sq mi) |
| Status | Protected Area since 2002 (first established 1927) |
| Manager | Madagascar National Parks (MNP) |
| Region | Boeny, northwestern Madagascar |
| Fire Season | June — November (peak: August — October) |
Fire Seasonality
Fire activity in Ankarafantsika follows a strong seasonal pattern, with the majority of fires occurring during the dry season between June and November. Peak activity is typically recorded in August through October when conditions are driest.
Fire Frequency
Analysis of historical fire data reveals recurring patterns at the park's edges and in areas adjacent to agricultural land. Some areas experience annual burning, while core forest areas remain less affected by fire.
Menabe Antimena
Menabe Antimena is a critical dry forest habitat in western Madagascar, home to unique and endemic flora and fauna species. The area faces significant threats from fire, slash-and-burn agriculture, and deforestation. Fire monitoring here aims to understand the dynamics of fire in this sensitive ecosystem and support conservation management decisions.
| Name | Menabe Antimena |
| Region | Menabe, western Madagascar |
| Habitat | Dry deciduous forest and mangroves |
| Key Species | Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, giant jumping rat |
| Threats | Fire, slash-and-burn, illegal logging |
Itremo
Itremo is a high-altitude grassland and forest mosaic in the central highlands of Madagascar. The area has distinctive fire regimes shaped by its topography and climate. Grassland fires play a complex ecological role here, and understanding fire patterns is essential for managing this unique landscape and its endemic plant species.
| Name | Itremo |
| Region | Amoron'i Mania, central highlands |
| Altitude | 1,200 — 1,700 m |
| Habitat | Grassland, tapia forest, rocky outcrops |
| Fire Role | Grassland maintenance, habitat mosaic dynamics |