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Sakoantovo Sacred Forest
Mahafaly/Androy area, southern Madagascar
Madagascar
Active (community-managed since 2003 transfer)
Single grove
- Location
- Mahafaly/Androy area, southern Madagascar
- Coordinates
- ~24.8°S 45.2°E
- Elevation
- Spiny-forest lowland
- Size
- 6,163 ha
- Age / Founded
- Ancient (Maroseranana royal ancestors)
- Status
- Active (community-managed since 2003 transfer)
- Deity & Religion
- Royal ancestral spirits (Maroseranana dynasty); Mahafaly traditional religion (fady)
- Community & Guardians
- Mahafaly people
- Vernacular name
- Ala faly / ala kibory (Mahafaly)
- Record type
- Single grove
Cultural practices & uses
Guards royal tombs & burial caves; ancient sacred fig tree; entry/harvest taboos
Plant species
Spiny-forest flora (Didiereaceae, baobabs); medicinal plants
Biome & fauna
Spiny Forest ecoregion (one of Earth's richest drylands); chameleons, lemurs, tortoises
Threats & protection
Management transferred to local population (2003); within ~60,000 ha of sacred spiny forest
Source
Tengö et al. 2004/2007 'Taboos and ecosystem services in southern Madagascar' (ICCA); Sacred Land — Androy Forests