Deforestation in Madagascar

By Genece Moss

de·for·es·ta·tion[dēˌfôrəˈstāSHən, dēˌfärəˈstāSHən]

NOUNthe action of clearing a wide area of trees

• cultivation• grazing• fuel wood• logging• economic development• mining

Deforestation is happening globally. Places such as the

Amazon, the Atlantic Forest/Gran Chaco, Cerrado, the Congo Basin, East Africa, Sumatra, Eastern

Australia, New Guinea, Borneo,

Greater Mekong and Madagascar.

In 1896, Madagascar’s forest was 11.2ha. By 1950, 7.6 million ha. was all that remained. By 1985, only 50 per cent of the rainforests that existed in 1950 still remained, which is 34 per

cent of that which originally existed.

A little history of Madagascar•1896 - France annexes Madagascar as a colony

•1918 - French rule

•1947 - The French crush rebellion lead by Jean Ralaimongo

•June 26, 1960 - Madagascar gains independence

•1975 - Didier Ratsiraka takes control and establishes a quasi-Maxist state •1991 - Economic collapsehttp://www.wildmadagascar.org/history/#sthash.JSrbsdJa.dpuf

Deforestation in Madagascar has been practiced as far back as 1896

In 1909, government attempted to prohibit TavyVast amounts of coffee are cultivatedPeasants began to cultivate coffee because of the

higher wages. In 1940, vaccines were introduced in Madagascar

lowering the death rateMadagascar also exploits its wood resources to

pay off the extreme debt owed to northern countries

MiningDeposits of gems

Who/What does this Effect?

Erosion Blood red rivers Carbon dioxide Water vapor Environmental refugees

Deforestation is a complex problemWilderness ActLacey Act Roadless Rule Convention on International

Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

Conservationists such as Greenpeace and WWF

My observation: a simple balance of reforest and deforest

http://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Ring-tailed-Lemur.aspx?sc=AWY1302WC922&_ga=1.203974160.1005969628.1447834798

Adopt a Ring-tailed Lemer

Found only in the southern and southwestern forests of Madagascar, ring-tailed lemurs’ diet consists mainly of fruit, but also leaves, seeds and the occasional insect. Unlike most lemurs, which are usually found in trees, the ring-tailed lemur spends time on the ground. They form troops of up to 25 individuals and use 15 different sounds to keep the group together during foraging and to send alarms when predators are near. To help secure the future of lemurs, WWF and Malagasy conservationists are working together to establish and manage parks and protected areas in Madagascar.