Madagascar: biodiversity in peril, an urgent call to action

Posté le 10 octobre 2024

Madagascar's biodiversity crisis is particularly urgent and alarming.

While global wildlife populations have fallen by 73% since 1970, Madagascar, with its unique biodiversity, is facing unprecedented environmental challenges (Living Planet Report 2024). This report highlights not only the seriousness of the situation, but also the devastating consequences of such biodiversity loss. More than a million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction (IPBES), with profound impacts on ecosystems and the food security of human populations.
For Madagascar, a country where around 70% of the population lives below the poverty line (World Bank), the need to act is of paramount importance. As such, WWF's priorities for the next five years are to strengthen strategic and political actions to achieve the 2023 objectives in the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Indeed, the tipping point is effectively 2030. Conservation actions will be strongly reinforced with a strong mobilization of all entities in order to promote the protection of essential habitats and to promote a sustainable management of resources.

Madagascar's biodiversity is exceptional: the island is home to around 5% of the world's biodiversity, with over 90% of lemur species being endemic. However, between 2002 and 2023, Madagascar lost around 1.08 million hectares of its primary rainforests, which are very important because they have never been touched by man. This represents 22% of the country's total forest loss during this period. Tortoises, which are also emblematic of Madagascar's fauna, face threats such as poaching, habitat destruction and species trafficking. Madagascar's emblematic lemur and turtle species face growing challenges, including habitat loss, poaching and climate change. In 2024 alone, over 1,000 turtles and more than 48 lemurs fell victim to poaching. Around 50% of Madagascar's coral reefs have been lost since 1980.

The need for an integrated conservation approach is imperative, crucial and very urgent. Efforts must be made to protect natural habitats while maximizing local community awareness of biodiversity issues. Madagascar's ecosystems are at a critical tipping point. Tropical forests and coral reefs are threatened by human degradation. If immediate action is not taken, the collapse of these ecosystems could have catastrophic consequences for the flora and fauna, as well as for the human communities that depend on them.