Full scientific report: Madagascar
Generated 13 November 2026, 03:27 from live Atlas data
Executive summary
Atlas holds 319,264 mapped features and 38,648 observations in 44 datasets. The mapped mangrove canopy covers 261,598 ha in 26,508 polygons across 1 formation classes; Mangrove dominates with 100.0% of the area. The median patch is only 0.172 ha, while patches of 10 ha or more hold 93.6% of the area. 0 ha (0.0%) lies within 10 km of the LAPSSET development footprint.
Single mapping epoch (2019). Areas are geodesic hectares recalculated from geometry.
Species & formations
| Formation | Polygons | Area (ha) | Share | Mean patch (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mangrove | 26,508 | 261,598.3 | 100.0% | 9.87 |
Fragmentation & landscape metrics
- Patches
- 26,508
- Mean / median / largest
- 9.87 / 0.172 / 4,899.5 ha
- Effective mesh size
- 956.6 ha
- Largest patch index
- 1.9%
- Power-law exponent α
- 1.54
Spatial clustering
Global Moran’s I = 0.141 (z = 6.5, p < 0.001). Hot-spot cells (Gi*, ≥95%): 78; cold-spot cells: 31.
| Top hot-spot cell | Polygons | Area (ha) | Gi* z |
|---|---|---|---|
| -15.55, 47 | 126 | 811 | 4.24 |
| -15.6, 47 | 96 | 1,378 | 4.20 |
| -15.6, 46.95 | 45 | 872 | 3.84 |
| -15.65, 47 | 175 | 898 | 3.80 |
| -15.65, 46.95 | 6 | 628 | 3.71 |
| -15.55, 47.05 | 66 | 786 | 3.48 |
Pressure: LAPSSET and villages
Mangrove ha by distance from LAPSSET
Mangrove ha by distance from villages
Data quality
| Dataset | Features | Repaired | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, Madagascar | 13,819 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, Madagascar | 19,011 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, Madagascar | 15,178 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, Madagascar | 13,081 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, Madagascar | 13,620 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, Madagascar | 31,144 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, Madagascar | 26,508 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, Madagascar | 21,587 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, Madagascar | 17,782 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, Madagascar | 17,600 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, Madagascar | 16,784 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, Madagascar | 15,319 | 0 | 100 |
| Mahafaly | 1 | 0 | 95 |
| Madagascar | 1 | 0 | 95 |
| Africa_Water_Towers | 7 | 0 | 95 |
| EAC_MZQ_ForestProgramme_Countries | 8 | 0 | 95 |
| flr_9 | 9 | 0 | 95 |
| polygons | 11 | 0 | 95 |
| Biodiversity Hotspots | 12 | 0 | 95 |
| FLRi Countries | 13 | 0 | 95 |
| FLRi Countries | 13 | 0 | 95 |
| Operational Land/Seascape | 70 | 10 | 95 |
| Operational Land/Seascape | 70 | 10 | 95 |
| Operational Landscape | 79 | 13 | 95 |
| Africa_WWF_Priority_202104_Operational_Landscapes_Seascape | 96 | 16 | 95 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | 126 | 0 | 95 |
| Join_Features_to_Countries_RFP | 152 | 0 | 95 |
| Rivers | 228 | 0 | 95 |
| Administration (Level 2) | 495 | 1 | 95 |
| Administration (Level 2) | 495 | 1 | 95 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | 642 | 0 | 95 |
| AfricaPriority_River | 857 | 0 | 95 |
| Small airport | 1,979 | 0 | 95 |
| Dams | 2,586 | 0 | 95 |
| Districts | 6,099 | 13 | 95 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | 7,438 | 1 | 95 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | 9,759 | 0 | 95 |
| Divisions | 17,649 | 9 | 95 |
| Irrigated Areas | 23,095 | 1 | 95 |
| Agro-Ecological Zones | 25,791 | 17 | 95 |
| Carbon projects: Madagascar | 8 | 0 | 90 |
| Seagrass (UNEP-WCMC): Madagascar | 25 | 0 | 90 |
| Salt marsh (UNEP-WCMC): Madagascar | 4 | 0 | 90 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): Madagascar | 13 | 0 | 90 |
Recommendations
Datasets & sources
| Dataset | Publisher | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, Madagascar | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 13,819 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, Madagascar | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 19,011 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, Madagascar | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 15,178 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, Madagascar | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 13,081 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, Madagascar | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 13,620 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, Madagascar | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 31,144 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, Madagascar | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 26,508 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, Madagascar | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 21,587 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, Madagascar | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 17,782 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, Madagascar | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 17,600 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, Madagascar | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 16,784 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, Madagascar | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 15,319 |
| Mahafaly | WWF Kenya | 1 |
| Madagascar | WWF Kenya | 1 |
| Africa_Water_Towers | WWF Kenya | 7 |
| EAC_MZQ_ForestProgramme_Countries | WWF Kenya | 8 |
| flr_9 | WWF Kenya | 9 |
| polygons | WWF Kenya | 11 |
| Biodiversity Hotspots | WWF Kenya | 12 |
| FLRi Countries | WWF Kenya | 13 |
| FLRi Countries | WWF Kenya | 13 |
| Operational Land/Seascape | WWF Kenya | 70 |
| Operational Land/Seascape | WWF Kenya | 70 |
| Operational Landscape | WWF Kenya | 79 |
| Africa_WWF_Priority_202104_Operational_Landscapes_Seascape | WWF Kenya | 96 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | WWF Kenya | 126 |
| Join_Features_to_Countries_RFP | WWF Kenya | 152 |
| Rivers | WWF Kenya | 228 |
| Administration (Level 2) | WWF Kenya | 495 |
| Administration (Level 2) | WWF Kenya | 495 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | WWF Kenya | 642 |
| AfricaPriority_River | WWF Kenya | 857 |
| Small airport | WWF Kenya | 1,979 |
| Dams | WWF Kenya | 2,586 |
| Districts | WWF Kenya | 6,099 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | WWF Kenya | 7,438 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | WWF Kenya | 9,759 |
| Divisions | WWF Kenya | 17,649 |
| Irrigated Areas | WWF Kenya | 23,095 |
| Agro-Ecological Zones | WWF Kenya | 25,791 |
| Carbon projects: Madagascar | Berkeley Carbon Trading Project, University of California, Berkeley | 8 |
| Seagrass (UNEP-WCMC): Madagascar | UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Short FT | 25 |
| Salt marsh (UNEP-WCMC): Madagascar | UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Short FT | 4 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): Madagascar | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | 13 |