It was created in 1956 to protect the many endemic plants and animals, and it also contains some of the last remaining areas of dry deciduous forest on the island.

[2] The forest grows on iron-rich (or ferralitic) soil which forms due to the chemical weathering of most of the minerals; except for quartz.

[3] The people living in the villages around the reserve, are dependent for its resources and use the land for grazing zebu, and grow cassava, maize and rice.

[4] The largest habitat, within the reserve is 5,611 hectares (13,870 acres) is subtropical moist forest which is some of the last remaining in Madagascar.

Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) is of most concern to the IUCN which is considered to be endangered, and the common brown lemur (Eulemur fulvus) which is near threatened.