Wild Places: Madagascar

Much like the Galapagos’, this compelling Island is an eco-rich world of biodiversity, but it is also under an abundance of severe threats to its ecosystems. What is so interesting about Madagascar, is that because it covers such a range of climates due to it’s length and positioning, factored in with its 88 million years of isolation, it has been left to nurture a diverse world of wildlife. It’s forests are proudly home one hundred and one different species of a very unique primate... So unique they don't live anywhere else in the world. But that’s not all. Approximately 90 percent of all species that call this place home, are also endemic.

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(the Fossa)

Panther chameleons hide along the coasts, Tomato Frogs in the swamps, Fossa creep through dense tropical forest and the Aye-Aye wakes at night high in the treetops. Satanic Leaf Tailed Geckos disguising themselves in the foliage, Madagascar Pochards glide through the marches... And then there’s the Lemur. Latin name for ‘spirit of the night’, this lovely, bug-eyed herbivore hasn’t always solely inhabited Madagascar. Over a hundred and sixty million years ago, Madagascar was attached to African Mainland along with what we now know as Australia, Antarctica and India. The first fossils of Lemurs were found in the mainland only 60 million years ago so, after the split happened. So how did they get there?! It is widely believed that somehow, clinging onto anything that would float (a branch perhaps) they managed to cross the water, and once they were there could totally thrive due to lack of predators.

Sadly though for wildlife but naturally, a new predator entered town 2000 years ago. Us. Human beings. Madagascar is now also home to twenty one million people- 80% of those living below the poverty line. The country has had unstable economy due to historical government corruption, where so much money has been laundered that development has not really been possible, and the locals have really suffered. The island’s main form of survival and income alongside fishing has been agriculture, which has been made possible by unsustainable slash-and-burn methods. This has left the island with less than 20% of it’s original forest area, the extinction of it’s giant tortoise, pygmy hippo, elephant bird and 16 species of lemur. Without the dense tropical forest that once existed, it’s in serious danger of losing so many more of its special species. In fact, the situation had become so sad that the country holds the record for the highest number of critically endangered primates of any country in the world. Illegal logging for wood such as rosewood has also played a part in deforestation.

How can humans and wildlife live side by side in Madagascar?

In an strong effort on the part of the countries old leader, Marc Ravolomanana between 2002 and 2008, things were looking hopeful on the wildlife front. He put in place plans to triple the countries protected natural areas, creating 5 reserves, 21 wildlife reserves and 21 national parks. But, in 2007 a coup turned the country upside down, and Ravolomanana was overthrown, sending the country once again into political unrest, leaving loggers to enter any protected area they wished and destroying vital forest. New government is in place now, and there is a new election happening next year, so let's hope it's one truly for the good of everyone and everything that lives on the island. The future of the people and wildlife of Madagascar is extremely fragile, and this is before we've even mentioned the effects of climate change already causing drought and as a result starvation. There are a couple of projects to be hopeful for, but the island needs some serious funding to make them worthwhile and maintain them overtime.

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Reforestation The Eden Projects, leaders in reforestation who say they are the one of the worlds most prolific and cost-effective tree planting groups, have been working on reforestation there since 2009. To date, they have replanted 122,580,000 trees in Madagascar alone, focusing on the Mangroves and the dry deciduous forests. The mangrove project is replenishing the Malagasy mangroves 'at a rate of around 1.4 Million trees/month'. And most importantly to mention, the organisation pay the local people to plant. Seeing as Madagascar has so much to restore, this means a fair and stable income for years ahead. Is it enough? Well, some trees take thirty years to regrow in perfect conditions, but bear in mind that some take hundreds or years to reach full maturity, so the protection of the historic forest is of ultimate importance. We can't see reforestation as a reason not to worry, as in many circumstances it doesn't replicate what was originally there.

The Eden Projects, Madagascar

Other reforestation projects and funding sources are working on the island, but the country needs a serious injection of cash to provide a proper future for everything that lives there.

Eco-tourism

Again, because of money being hidden away from development and political unrest, Madagascar's potential for a thriving eco-tourism industry has been held back. It does exist on the island, but could be so much more, bringing in money for the people and protection of the wildlife. Check out Lonely Planet's stunning guides to the country, although I would disagree with their travel writer for stating that the island is still so unspoiled: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/madagascar It's not all negative, what is still there is drop-dead beautiful, and there is hope for people and wildlife for the future with the right government, funding, protection and tourism. Follow the Guardians Madagascar feed for the latest, in-depth news on how the country is fairing, including climate change, wildlife conservation and development for people: https://www.theguardian.com/world/madagascar