| Rainforests of the Atsinanana * | |
|---|---|
| Country | Madagascar |
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | ix, x |
| Reference | 1257 |
| Region ** | Africa |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2007 (31st Session) |
| Endangered | 2010–present |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO |
|
The Rainforests of the Atsinanana is a World Heritage Site that was inscribed in 2007 and consists 13 specific areas located within six national parks in the eastern part of Madagascar. The six national parks include:
The Rainforests of the Atsinanana comprise six national parks distributed along the eastern part of the island. These relict forests are critically important for maintaining ongoing ecological processes necessary for the survival of Madagascar’s unique biodiversity, which reflects the island’s geological history. Having completed its separation from all other land masses more than 60 million years ago, Madagascar’s plant and animal life evolved in isolation. The rainforests are inscribed for their importance to both ecological and biological processes as well as their biodiversity and the threatened species they support. Many species are rare and threatened especially primates and lemurs.