The Tsiribihina mangroves extend along the coast around the mouth of the Tsiribihina River. The mangroves are mostly within the reserve, with the portion north of the river outside it. There are about 20,000 hectares of mangroves, 8.5% of Madagascar's mangroves by area, along with lagoons, marshes, sandbanks, salt flats, and mud flats. About 40,000 waterbirds from 44 species live in the wetlands, including large numbers of lesser crested tern (Thalasseus bengalensis), lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor), greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), crab-plover (Dromas ardeola), curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) and sanderling (Calidris alba). Threatened species include the Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides), Madagascar teal (Anas bernieri), Malagasy sacred ibis (Threskiornis bernieri), Madagascar heron (Ardea humbloti), Madagascar plover (Charadrius thoracicus), and Madagascar pratincole (Glareola ocularis).[3]
The Tsiribihina mangroves (Mangroves de Tsiribihina) and were declared a Ramsar site (wetland of international importance) in 2017, with an area of 47,218 ha. Deforestation upstream threatens the wetlands and offshore coral reefs with siltation.[3]
Bedo wetlands
The Bedo wetlands (Zones humides de Bedo) are also within the Menabe Antimena protected area. They are located on the lower Mandroatse River, south of the Tsiribihina and north of the Morondava River, at the western edge of the Marandravy and Analabe forests. The wetlands are habitat for water birds, including the vulnerable Madagascar plover (Charadrius thoracicus) and endangered Madagascar teal (Anas bernieri) and Madagascar heron (Ardea humbloti). The Mandroatse River is home to the Marakely fish (Paratilapia polleni), a threatened Madagascar endemic, and the Nile crocodile.[2]
Local people depend on the wetlands for fish and bullrushes (Typha angustifolia), which are harvested for basketry and house roofs.[2]
The Bedo wetlands were declared a Ramsar site in 2007, covering an area of 1,692 ha.[2]
