The east coast of Madagascar receives very heavy rain and thus has a natural vegetation of tropical rain forest with savanna grasses on the remain part of the island. The principal food crop on the island is Paddy rice and coffee , vanilla, sugar, cloves, pepper are grown for export. A very high biological diversity and endemism are found in Madagascar, where lives about 10,000- 12,000 kinds of plant species with more than 80% are endemic. The island also conserves a high primate diversity. Furthermore, a high level of family-level endemism with five bird families (Brachypteraciidae, Leptosomatidae, Mesithornidae, Phillepittidae and Vangidae) are in the island.
However, Madagascar has many critically endangered species, including Madagascar serpent eagle (Eutriorchis astur), Alaotra grebe (Tachybaptus rufolavatus), Madagascar pochard (Aythya innotata), Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides), and Sakalava rail (Amaurornis olivieri). Also, only 10% of original vegetative cover is left and under 2% area is protected and 80% of forest are destroyed.
There are many threats to the ecosystem in Madagascar. First and the most important reason is too much agricultural expansion on their low fertile land, leading to soil erosion, and thus about 100-300 million dollar of future agricultural potential is lost each year. Secondly, uncontrolled livestock grazing leads to clearance of vegetation and too much grass growth. Next, introduction of exotic species is a serious threat to native wildlife and to island flora due to no defense. Other reasons are timber exploitation, fuel wood collection, mining, etc.
Madagascar Government did some actions to protect their environment, including National Environmental Action Plan(NEAP) in 1991, creating several new institutions, etc. Many NGOs also contribute to the protection of species and environment in the island. However, all these NGO communities are relatively weak and lacking skilled leadership with ineffective scientific institutions. Also, the government do not have enough resources and fund to support protection as Madagascar do not have a strong economy.
As a result, I believe that Madagascar government should cooperate with international organizations more efficiently and more importantly, change the way of using their natural resources, in a more environment friendly way, such as passing laws to ensure agriculture development does not result in destruction of environment, expand protected areas, etc.
Data from http://rainforests.mongabay.com/deforestation/2000/Madagascar.htm :
Madagascar: Forest Cover, 2010
Total Land Area (1000 square kilometers)
|
58154
|
Total Forest Area (1000 ha)
|
12553
|
Percent Forest Cover
|
22
|
Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha)
|
3036
|
Primary Forest, % total forest
|
24
|
Other wooded land (1000 ha)
|
15688
|
Percent other wooded land
|
27
|
Madagascar: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha)
| |||
1990
|
2000
|
2005
|
2010
|
13461
|
12850
|
12548
|
12138
|
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation
| |||
1990-2000
|
2000-2005
|
2005-2010
| |
-61
|
-61
|
-71
| |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation
| |||
1990-2000
|
2000-2005
|
2005-2010
| |
-0.5
|
-0.45
|
-0.55
|
-
Madagascar: Environment
Environment - current issues
|
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
|
Environment - international agreements
|
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|
Natural hazards
|
periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation
|
Madagascar: Land use / Resources
Land use (%)
|
arable land: 5.07%
permanent crops: 1.03%
other: 93.91% (2001)
|
Natural resources
|
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
|
50% (2004 est.)
|
References:
Jesse H. Wheeler, Jr. J. Trenton Kostbade Richard S. Thoman Regional Geography of the world (Holt,
Rinehart ad Winston, Inc. 1969)
CEPF, Ecosystem Profile: Madagascar ecosystem of the Madagascar
& Indian ocean islands biodiversity hotspot,2000
