Madagascar, a burning paradise

Young people are concerned about the fire situation in Madagascar ... because their future is indeed at stake. The land of their children and future generations is on fire.

The forests of Madagascar are known for their totally unique diversity of flora and fauna, due to the island's prolonged isolation. However, its biodiversity is under threat.
Young people are raising their voices to denounce and call for urgent action, before our "paradise" is reduced to ashes.

Stop the fires: an urgent action, everyone's business!

Forest and bush fires are increasing in size, more than 8,200 hectares in the month of October 2022 alone. The plausible causes can be famine, the lowering of the standard of living of the population, the use of unsustainable agricultural techniques and illicit exploitation. These obviously lead to deforestation, climate change, degradation of human health and the destruction of biodiversity.
The authorities are currently setting up an institution to fight the fires in the affected regions and are working more with civil society as the mobilization to "Stop the fires". However, it must be taken into account that this fight is not only the duty of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.
Preventive methods must be strengthened: allocation of more means for the protection of forests and the management of protected areas, realization of effective reforestation including monitoring and evaluation, adoption of a nutrition plan at the level of deforestation, popularization of green and renewable energies, involvement of the local population and other ministries, among others.
The future of man depends on the forest. If we do not take care of our own wealth, who else will do it for us?

Lari ANDRIANTSEHENO Bôndy Green Army

Bush and forest fires : « My heart is broken seeing my homeland consumed by fire »

Hills, protected areas, many are the areas destroyed by the flames, as in the reforestation site of Antanamifafy Ankorefo, in the forest chain of Ivohibe, in the Ihorombe region. Or on the Tampoketsa and Ambohitantely-Ankazobe, in Andasibe-Moramanga, in the Bay of Baly in Soalala, in Ankarafantsika, in Isalo, in Alarobia-Vatosola on the side of Andramasina and other places too.
In front of these facts, questions arise: are these fires accidental? Or caused voluntarily? And in this case, who benefits from the crime? As a Malagasy and proud of it, my conscience can only accept that a Malagasy in his right mind could burn Madagascar. It is also difficult to believe that political differences lead to the destruction of the country. These fires may also hide a latent conflict between the local residents and those responsible for these protected sites. Unless it is a tactic to obtain funding or simply a lack of understanding of the importance of these forests, their fauna and flora, most of which are endemic, and the impact of climate change on human survival. Certainly, these are only assumptions, but the investigations will be carried out, will bring the answers to these questions.

Arson and reckless bush fires are punishable by law. However, this does not prevent them. The solution would be to entrust the financial and material management of these sites to the grassroots communities at the level of the fokontany, who will appropriate and jealously protect them. This would give permanent employment to young people, because the protection of protected areas should be complemented by training... In short, we need a good strategy to fight these fires.

Rinah Heriche RAKOTONDRASOA,
Sociologist, Unis Vers Vintsy Tana

"It is time for everyone to act and lead an intense fight against bushfires."

For a decade humanity has been experiencing the direct impact of climate change. The temperature is not stable, deforestation is multiplying in tropical countries and fire spots are detected all over the world.
Madagascar is an island known for its exceptional biodiversity with 129 protected areas covering an area of about 7,000,000 hectares. Despite this, fire points are observed in the island including inside the protected areas, not to mention the death of animal species living in these forests.
In the north, some traditions persist. Firstly, there is the cultivation on burnt land to facilitate the tasks in the fields. Secondly, there are bush fires for pasture, as well as uncontrolled charcoal fires.

To mitigate all these misdeeds, we, the Junior Chamber International Ambilobe, have opted to raise awareness on the negative impacts of these traditions by building fire corridors. We also proposed new species of grass seeds for cattle and goats with local partners. Secondly, we have popularized the green charcoal technique, including the reforestation of fast-growing trees such as acacia. Finally, an option not to be neglected is the support to micro-projects to fill the lack of resources of the local population.
We wonder when we will understand that we are destroying the future of our descendants? So it is time for everyone to act and lead an intense fight against bushfires.

Junior Chamber International (JCI) Ambilobe