Tsingy of Namoroka: a scientific expedition soon

An international team composed of about twenty scientists led by Thomas Haevermans, a botanist at a natural history museum, will conduct a comprehensive survey in the natural reserve “Tsingy of Namoroka” from August 29 until September 17. This natural site has never benefited from such an expedition and survey until the present, in spite of the fact that it is brimming with marvelous natural endemic species, constituting tourist and economic potential for the surrounding regions.

Indeed, in addition to being an opportunity for valuable research on the biodiversity of the site, a mining exploitation will also start sometime in the future and will provide a source of income for the local population. However, since the exploitation of underground natural resources is being a sensitive matter in recent times arousing fierce debate, especially among environmentalists, the implementation of the project requires a great deal of prudence.

Among the three principal massifs of the Big Island, including Tsingy of Ankarana, Tsingy of Bemaraha and Tsingy of Namoroka, the latter one is the most unrecognized. However, this natural reserve possesses extraordinary flora in that it is home to 128 species of vegetation and a great variety of species of animals endemic to Madagascar. But what makes this place so stunning is the formation of limestone and dolomites on which quartz covering the 16000 ha of the park’s surface.