Threats to Nature

Rain forest in Analila, Northern Madagascar

Richness in danger

Madagascar is an island of extreme diversity. The richness of its flora and fauna and its exceptionally high degree of endemic plants and animals make it a unique country.
In the fifties, natural forests covered 16 million hectares, or nearly 28% of the country’s surface. Today, they cover about 10 million hectares or 17% of the surface of the Big Island.

Why?

Several factors have contributed to deforestation: Rapid population growth, an increasing impoverishment of the local population, its need to increase food production and a rising demand for wood for domestic energy.
For their domestic energy needs, almost 95% of Malagasy households use firewood and charcoal. Also, there are logging requirements for timber and construction. Thus, the combination of these factors promotes agricultural and forestry practices, which accelerate deforestation.

The photographer has granted WWF single-rights use for this photo.

Airplane view of deforestation-induced erosion in Madagascar.

Loss of natural habitat

Most of Madagascar's dry forests have been cleared for slash-and-burn agriculture, pasture, firewood, or construction materials. Most of this previously forested area is now covered by secondary grasslands and what remains of the forest is being gnawed away by burning of surrounding degraded savannas.

Mangroves are faring relatively better. However, little has been done to protect these ecosystems which are sensitive to urban development, overfishing and introduced fish species.

Tavy.

Tavy

The slash-and-burn practice or “tavy” is practiced in almost all regions of Madagascar. It is a shifting cultivation; people clear a section of forest to set fire to grow rice, maize, cassava and other food crops.
After two years at the most, the soil is depleted. So farmers clear new plots. Thus, 200,000 to 300,000 hectares of natural forest are cleared each year. After such a slash-and-burn the soils are affected by erosion. Rain and wind cause a chain of destruction that lead to sedimentation on coral reefs.

Rose wood tree stump in Marojejy National Park, Madagascar

Illegal logging of precious wood

Illegal logging of precious woods has grown since the early 2000s. It has been aggravated by the political crisis of 2009. Since the late 1990s, the ban on use and export of precious woods has led to many conflicting decisions. Because logging of precious woods is a "very profitable" sector for foreign investors and their allies who control the industry, both in Madagascar and in Asia, mainly in China.
By the end of 2008 and during 2009, the illegal operations have mostly taken place in the national parks of Marojejy and Masoala, located in the northeast of the island. In September 2009, an export authorization has been granted by the Government of Madagascar, causing protests by international NGOs such as WWF, Conservation International and the World Conservation Society, as well as associations and organizations of civil society in Madagascar.

The smothering of coral reefs

During the rainy season, the sea around Madagascar is red. It is the effect of millions of tons of laterite carried by streams and rivers from the highlands that are suffering from erosion as a result of deforestation. The degradation chain ends in the Mozambique Channel and Indian Ocean.
In the Southwest, the sediment settles on the Toliara coral reef. Fortunately, the phenomenon has not yet reached a scale irreversible, but if deforestation does not stop upstream, the marine and coastal ecosystem is in danger!

Climate change

Madagascar’s CO2 emissions are negligible compared to those of industrialized countries. Its significant contribution in reducing emissions will be in the development of renewable energies, stopping deforestation and promoting reforestation.

Madagascar is among the countries that will suffer the brunt of the effects of climate change. Droughts, floods and cyclones will become more violent.

The goal "zero net deforestation” is not utopian in Madagascar. Efforts are underway, including the establishment of protected areas, reforestation policy and REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation). However, achieving this goal requires a sustained commitment from all stakeholders.

Boy standing in front of Parc National de Ranomafana (Rano = water, Mafana = warm)

Invasive species

It was found that the introduction of alien species is the second direct cause of biodiversity loss after ecological habitat destruction. Madagascar doesn’t seem to miss out on invasive species.

The guava plant Psidium cattleiaman threatens natural wetland forests like Ranomafana National Park. However, the guava wood is used by the population because of its strength, and it’s also a medicinal plant - its leaves, roots and fruits are used as anti-diarrheal.

In South and South West of Madagascar, the red cactus Opuntia stricta invades areas of cultivation and grazing, and threatens protected areas like National Park Tsimanampesotse and the Cap Sainte Marie reserve. This plant was introduced in 1950 to help the people meet their food needs during periods of drought and famine.

In terms of wildlife, there was the introduction of a carnivorous fish Ophiocephalus striatus, from South-East Asia in the late 1970s. Introduced in the rivers of the highlands, that carnivorous fish has proliferated to other areas, suppressing aquatic insects and populations of amphibians and fish.

Such Radiated Tortoises were found for sale in Chatuchak Market, Bangkok, although their commercial international trade is prohibited.

This is the radiated tortoise Geochelone radiata which is the subject of extensive illegal exploitation. During the last three years, according to official data, about 2500 juvenile turtles were seized by the customs in Madagascar's only international airport Ivato. The turtles were captured for pet markets in South East Asia, Japan, several European countries and North America.

The illegal species trade (traffic)

The turtles, chameleons, snakes and amphibians in Madagascar are the subject of extensive international traffic. The radiated tortoise in particular is very valuable in its natural habitat, not only as a rare animal but also because it’s a link for the survival of the flora: While feeding on plants, the radiated tortoise adds nutrients to the soil and promotes germination of seeds that pass through its digestive system.

These emblematic animals of Madagascar are threatened or endangered and are listed in Annexes I and II of CITES.
A true mafia organization exists. They organize both the collection in the habitats and the delivery of these animals to key international platforms, Bangkok and Prague mostly.

Fishing village Antsako, Nosy Hara Marine National Park, Madagascar

Overharvesting / Destructive fishing practices

This is a threat at regional level and concerns both coastal and offshore fisheries. Reef/coastal fisheries account for a large proportion of local livelihoods and economies. Offshore fisheries additionally concern global commodities such as tunas, billfish, sharks, shrimps and sea cucumbers. Of these, tunas deserve specific attention as the region is one of the world’s greatest producers of this commodity (Seychelles is the largest tuna landing port of the Indian Ocean), yet the Indian Ocean is one of the last places where tuna fisheries is poorly managed. Overharvesting and destructive fishing practices are fueled by the same indirect threats.

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