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The area centres around the convergence of the western and southern Malagasy phytogeographical zones, which results in a high biodiversity of species. The site includes a watershed upstream and marine and coastal ecosystems downstream. This terrestrial and marine landscape provides an impressive mosaic of rich but fragile and diverse ecosystems, such as dry forests, thickets, thorn forests, savannahs, salty swampy depressions (tannes), mangroves and coral reefs.Kirindy-Mite National Park is situated within the core area and has the largest population ofAdansonia grandidieri(500,000 trees), one of the seven species of Malagasy Baobabs. Other common floral species include the Madagascar rosewood (Dalbergia baronii), tamarind (Tamarindus indica) andCommiphora grandifolia.The reef is a feeding area of spectacular marine megafauna including species such as the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), dugong (Dugong dugon) and lesser flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor). The biosphere reserve also hosts several species endemic to Madagascar including the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) and narrow-striped mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata), as well as endangered endemic species such as the Malagasy giant rat (Hypogeomys antimena), Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae) and Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi).The biosphere reserve also encompasses the ‘Lacs arrière dunaires’, which have been designated a Ramsar site.