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The Classification of Natural and Anthropogenic Vegetation in Madagascar
PRINCIPAL VEGETATION TYPES IN MADAGASCAR (cont.)
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In the central part of the Madagascar, one now sees a desolate,
open landscape, with small, remnant stands of evergreen forest
(thalwegs) restricted to valleys and other protected sites,
surrounded by vast expanses of monotonous secondary grassland. |
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These areas are almost totally devoid of trees, and have been
subjected to regular annual burning for centuries, resulting in
an irreversibly impoverished landscape. |
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A few remnant areas with rich, diverse evergreen forest remain in
the central part of the country, such as at the Ambohitantely
Special Reserve north of Antananarivo, |
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or in a small area south of Ambositra. |
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Specialized vegetation types are associated with edaphic
conditions, such as those found on inselbergs (large granitic
domes), in south-central Madagascar, |
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or at Isalo National Park in the southwest. |
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In poorly drained areas, edaphic swamps (marécages édaphiques)
occur with characteristic plants such as the palm Ravenea rivularis and species of "coniferoid" Pandanus. |
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And even in the midst of dense closed forest, such as at
Ranomafana National Park, one can find natural areas dominated by
grasses, sedges, mosses, and other herbaceous species. |
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