Beanka

The 17,000 hectares form an isolated block of dry deciduous forest on limestone, located approximately 70km from Maintirano in the Melaky Region, extending for tens of kilometers, which could be considered a northern extension of the Tsingy de Bemaraha. In 2007, we signed a Management Convention with the Ministry of Environment allowing us to attempt to preserve this forest, which was subsequently declared a New Protected Area (NPA) in 2016.

Beanka holds enormous ecological value as this type of forest now occupies less than 5% of the total area. The Beanka forest presents a unique aspect with several areas of closed canopy. Moreover, its richness in fauna and flora is of great importance. Initially not well known, since BCM's management in 2007, several studies and scientific research have been conducted there since 2010. The results have revealed new species and provided new archaeological and speleological knowledge. Particularly noteworthy is the Mentocrex beankensis, a new bird species that was the first significant discovery.

The 18 jobs created by this project continue to ensure surveillance of this vast area and the production of young plants to meet the needs of restoring areas damaged by fire or reserved for community reforestation to meet the needs of local populations.

The main threat to Beanka, which is highly exposed to wind, is bushfires, often of intentional origin, whose devastating consequences are irreversible as they leave no chance for the very sensitive vegetation to regenerate, causing the forest edge to recede year by year.​​​​​​​​​​​​​