Data comprise wood specific gravity (WSG) and density at 12% moisture content (D12) in wood cores sampled from trees in the Ankeniheny Zahamena forest corridor, the remains of the evergreen forest of eastern Madagascar. The data also include date of sample collection, zone identifier, core identifier, local and scientific tree name, tree height and diameter. Samples were analysed by UFR Sciences du bois de l'ESSA-forêts, Université d'Antananarivo. Data were collected as part of a project funded under the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme. Work package 4, P4GES project