Is the worst year for Madagascar’s biodiversity over?

ttsiadinototo's picture
2009 was commonly seen as the worst year for Madagascar’s biodiversity since the adoption of the Environmental Program in early 90s. The present situations in Madagascar prove that politics are the main responsible of the success as defeat of the environmental conservation in the developing countries. The end of the Ravalomanana government was the beginning of the largest illegal exploitation operation of the rare Rose wood called locally Andramena and the Ebony known as Hazo maintiñy in the last remaining natural rainforest of Madagascar. The impact areas are huge and difficult to access which make the scientific assessment difficult. The only real scientific evaluation available is the result of the investigation operated by the Missouri Botanical Garden and their partners for Madagascar during the 4 first months of 2009. Only from January to April 2009 In Marojejy and northern Masoala: 4.665 – 15.550 hectares In Makira and southern Masoala: 1.500 – 5.000 hectares Generating 120.000.000 US$, 41.600.000 US$ though the Vohémar. The country high level corruption for the administration and the non recognized Rajoelina’s government make the environmental organizations no power and no support. Through the news papers releases, we understand that many high personality of the government are involved in the dirty Rose wood business and all mediated actions by the famous Environmental Task Force are simply “make believes” dedicated to manage their image in front of the International Community. This disaster continue to affect the natural heritage of Madagascar, the Rose wood exploiters continue drop down the leftover, killing the lemurs to feed the poor rose wood cutters and the government continue the double contradictory roles as environmental protectionists in the official medias and delivering permission for the exportation of the rose wood and ebony at the same time. My personal view, the only way to real protect the Madagascar natural resources is helping the country to set up a new responsible government …!
Lina Nordlund's picture

Thank you for sharing these views

Thank you for sharing your views, I can recognize the difficulties in trying to improve sustainability from East Africa. What I have seen here in Tanzania through my own research and work is that the local communities are worried about their resources, and often we are asked to help them protect their resources.With an increasing "worried" local population the possibility to misuse resources hopefully decreases. There are good people in high positions that wants to do the right thing, but the contact can be hard to make. I look forward to more comments related to this topic.
Frida Lanshammar's picture

2010 - the international year for biodiversity

With 2010 being officially declared the International Year for Biodiversity (IYB) I really hope the situation you are experiencing in Madagascar will improve. Check http://www.cbd.int/2010/welcome/ for more information about the IYB, how you can participate and information about relevant upcoming events and other initiatives related to the conservation of biodiversity. IUCN is also part of this initiative and on their website (http://iucn.org/iyb/) they have a lot of information on the value of biodiversity, how you can support their work etc. Let us all help this important global initiative becomes a success by joining the networks and arranging local initiatives to increase the awareness and to actively take part in existing initiatives!