Si les menances pesant sur la biodiversité de l'ecorégion sont nombreuses, les opportunités le sont aussi. L'accès à la con- servation de certaines forêts semble être facile et dû à cer- tains facteurs bloquants de la perturbation de l'écosystème (différents tabous, terrain inexploitable pour faire de la cul- ture,...). Plusieurs groupes ethniques et communautés ont exprimé leur intérêt à participer à la gestion zones forestiè- res qui les entourent afin de les protéger des pressions exté- rieures. Ces opportunités de conservation doivent être déve- loppées et des stratégies seront élaborés pour aider les com- munautés locales à assumer les responsabilités de gestion et de conservation des forêts. Bibliographie Faramalala, M.H. 1995. Cartes des formations végétales et domaines forestiers national de Madagascar. Mittermeier, R.A.; Tattersall, I.; Konstant, W.R.; Meyers, D.M.; Mast, R.B. 1994. Lemurs of Madagascar. Conserva- tion International. Tropical field guide series. Washing- ton, D.C. Mark Fenn, Malatatiana Harilolona Randria- manalina WWF, B.P. 42, Tolagnaro (614), Madagascar Brigitte Marie Raharivololona Département de Paléontologie et d'Anthropologie Biologi- que, Faculté des Sciences, B.P. 906, Université d'Antanana- rivo, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar Brief surveys of two classified forests in Toamasina Province, eastern Madagas- car Madagascar's classified forests (Forêts classées) are admini- stered by provincial offices of the Ministère des Eaux et Fo- rêts. In theory exploitation of these forests is illegal, with the exception that local people may make use of traditional fo- rest products and apply for permission to cut timber for hou- se construction. In practice protection of these areas is non-existent. The network of classified forests covers an area of 4,000,000 ha (Mittermeier et al. 1994), however it is likely that only a fraction of this area still retains forest co- ver. The status of lemur populations in the classified forests is unknown, but their importance for the continued survival of many lemur species should not be underestimated. One-day surveys of the Antanamalaza and Sahivo classified forests, in Toamasina province, were carried out in January 1998 to record lemur and bird species present and to assess the state of forest cover. In addition Antanamalaza was re-surveyed in January 1999. Both of these lowland rain- forests are situated to the north-west of the 2,228 ha Betam- pona Natural Reserve (17 o 15' - 17 o 55'S, 49 o 12' - 49 o 15'E; Fig. 1). It is currently estimated that only 50% of Betampona (i.e., 1,114 ha) is relatively undisturbed primary rain forest. Eleven species of lemur occur at Betampona (see Table 1) and 80 bird species have been recorded in the reserve and its environs. Antanamalaza On paper Antanamalaza forest (17 o 50' S; 49 o 11' E) covers an area of 231 ha and lies approximately 5 km directly north- west of Betampona. Within the past 20 years the forest was continuous with the Sahivo forest to the south. On 21 January 1998 three lemur species were sighted: Indri indri; Varecia variegata variegata; Eulemur fulvus albi- frons . Local villagers also reported the presence of Dauben- tonia madagascariensis . Four Indri were sighted in a thin Table 1: Lemur species at Betampona Natural Reserve. Family Species Local name Cheirogaleidae Microcebus rufus Cheirogaleus major Phaner f. furcifer Tsidy Tsitsihy Tantana Megaladapidae Lepilemur mustelinus Trangalavaka Lemuridae Hapalemur g. griseus Eulemur fulvus albifrons Varecia v. variegata Bokombolo Alokosy Varikandana Indridae Avahi laniger Propithecus d. diadema Indri indri Fotsiafaka Simpona Babakoto Daubentoniidae Daubentonia madagascariensis Hay hay corridor of forest within a highly degraded area, characteri- sed by open secondary forest to the east and recent "Tavy" (slash-and-burn cultivation) plots to the west and south. The group comprised two adults, one juvenile and one infant (carried by mother). Inter-individual variation in pelage was apparent. The adult male was markedly lighter in coloration than the others, with white face and neck, white patches on lower back, flanks, rump and thighs, while shoulders, arms and ears were black. The other individuals had black face, neck, back and arms, grey thighs and only a small v-shaped patch of white on the lower back. The group was encountered at a height of 10 – 15 m in a Rara tree (Myristicaceae: Bronchoneura sp.). The Indri at Betam- pona have been observed to feed on the fruit and leaves of this species. Other tree species present, upon which the In- dri at Betampona have been observed to feed included: Me- nahihy (Ochnaceae: Campylospermum sp.), Voapaka (Eu- phorbiaceae: Uapaca sp.), Hazinina (Clusiaceae: Sympho- nia sp.), Molopangady (Rubiaceae: Alberta sp.) and Zanama- lotra (Cesalpiniaceae: Dialium sp.). Calls of three groups of Indri were heard from this region. A further light-coloured adult was sighted (white face, neck, chest, flanks and lower back; black ears, legs and shoulders) in an area characteri- sed by a low and discontinuous canopy (~ 10 m). Menahihy, Molopangady and Voapaka trees were present in the vicini- ty and other species upon which Indri have been observed to feed included Tarantana (Anacardiaceae: Rhus tarantana), Mampay (Cesalpiniaceae: Cynometra sp.), Sadodok'ala (Ru- biaceae: Gaertnera sp.) and Ramy (Burseraceae: Canarium madagascariensis). A group of six adult Varecia was sighted in a patch of forest bordering a large tavy clearing and calls were heard from two other groups. The pelage of these indi- viduals was identical to those at Betampona—i.e., corre- sponding to the variegata group (Tattersall 1982). A group of three adult Eulemur f. albifrons was also sighted. On 17 January 1999 four lemur species were sighted, the ad- dition being a single adult Avahi laniger . Villagers also re- ported the presence of Microcebus rufus and Phaner furcifer furcifer . It is also likely that Hapalemur griseus griseus and Cheirogaleus major occur within the forest. Four adult Indri were sighted in the same region as 1998. However no calls were heard from other groups. Four adult Varecia (one fema- le, three sex unknown) were sighted in the south of the fo- rest. A local woman working on her tavy claimed to have seen five individuals that morning. This is likely the same group observed in 1998, then numbering six. Calls were he- ard from a further two groups in the north and west. Two groups of E. f. albifrons were sighted: a group of four adults in the north (one male, one female, two sex unknown) and a group of two adults in the south (male and female). Unlike the E. f. albifrons at Betampona, the two groups were com- pletely silent and moved very quietly through the canopy. Thirty-eight bird species were recorded in the forest and surrounding area, including 17 species that occur only in primary or secondary forest. Of note is the presence of the Brown Mesite (Mesitornis unicolor) and the Red-fronted Lemur News Vol.4 , 1999 Page 25