The Ecosystem in Madagascar: The Ecosystem in Madagascar

Source: SEDACMaps http://www.flickr.com/photos/54545503@N04/5486110748/

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.

Source: wildmadagascar.org http://images.wildmadagascar.org/pictures/masoala/masoala-0160.jpg

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