In late October, 120 world leaders and nearly 40,000 representatives from civil society, business, and non-profit communities registered to attend the COP26 conference in Glasgow, focusing the world’s attention on a common global threat – climate change.  Madagascar is already experiencing increased temperatures, major flooding caused by violent cyclones and intense rainfall which devastate cities and farmlands, and more frequent droughts partially due to the changing climate.  In fact, in 2018, according to the Global Climate Risk Index, Madagascar ranked fourth among the nations most affected by extreme weather events associated with climate change.  Deforestation, which leads to lack of precipitation and increased temperatures, is another driver of droughts and localized temperature increases in many parts of the country.  Cutting down large swaths of forest can reduce soil moisture, which then negatively affects the ability of farmers to successfully grow crops, leading to economic insecurity.  In addition to these negative effects on agriculture and livelihoods, deforestation also contributes to pandemics.  By removing habitat for wild animals, humans are more likely to interact with wild species, setting the stage for potential spillover events and disease transmission.  Finally, by burning and cutting down forests, carbon emissions are released, which then exacerbates climate change – contributing to the vicious cycle of increased temperatures, floods, drought, further deforestation, and social and economic hardship.

Drought, Migration, and Destruction of Protected Areas – A Race to the Bottom

In western Madagascar, the dry forest within the Menabe Antimena protected area declined from 100,000 to 50,000 hectares from 2008 to 2020.  The protected area has come under pressure from slash and burn agricultural methods and illegal commercial maize cultivation, especially as migrants escaping food insecurity and economic hardship in southern Madagascar have moved into the region.  These migrants leave behind their native villages and ancestral homes where agricultural lands are threatened by years of ongoing drought.  Scientists predict that at the current rate of deforestation, the entire dry forest and its unique endemic species in the Menabe Antimena protected area could be lost in as little as four years.  These same practices have led to the destruction of other protected areas in Madagascar and contributed to drought and food insecurity in the fragile desert ecoregion of southern Madagascar. This happens because the unique, native flora of southern Madagascar is specially adapted to the arid environment and poor soil that doesn’t retain water.  When the southern forests are cut and the native flora destroyed, there is little to anchor the soil which is blown or washed away leaving exposed sand and rock.  This exposed sand is picked up by the wind creating sandstorms that smother crops, leaving people without food and livelihood. 

Restoring Forests – A Pathway to a Sustainable, Green Economy

To break this cycle of deforestation and to restore the environment, trees need to be planted and existing and new forests better protected.  Regenerating natural forests not only stores carbon, but also mitigates against temperature increases and erratic rainfall at the local level.  Restoring forests rebuilds water tables and soil, providing opportunities for agroforestry and sustainable agriculture.  Rebuilding the forests’ natural capital provides an opportunity to help communities diversify their small-scale economies, mitigate against the impacts of environmental degradation, and support Madagascar’s Climate Change Nationally Determined Contributions from the COP26.

Ecotourism is Madagascar’s international brand and one of its green economy drivers.  Restoring natural forests and protecting intact ecosystems provides important habitats for wildlife as well as an economic lifeline for community-supported ecotourism.  Once the COVID-19 epidemic is under control and tourists feel safe to return to Madagascar, there is enormous potential for Madagascar to be one of the international leaders in ecotourism by demonstrating sustainable, “climate friendly” practices.  Madagascar has a wide range of landscapes, micro-climates, and endemic species.  For example, as an alternative to the “Big 5” large animal safaris in South Africa, Madagascar could create ecotourism circuits to see the “Big 25” lemurs. 

Scaling up sustainable ecotourism is an economic opportunity with the potential to raise the country out of poverty in the same way that ecotourism supports the economies of Botswana, Kenya, and Costa Rica.  Tackling Madagascar’s dependence on charcoal is an economic opportunity for green technologies to address fuel needs in Madagascar’s villages and cities.  The government has a ReGreening Madagascar Initiative, which is a good step towards restoring vegetation cover.  Although there is a need to plant trees everywhere to restore the environment and break the cycle of deforestation, tree-planting cannot be equated with growing and protecting forests.  The fast-growing eucalyptus and acacia species often chosen for reforestation projects are meant to meet short term demand for timber and fuel, and do not serve as replacement for Madagascar’s forest resources rich in endemic species, nor do they count toward Madagascar’s NDC for carbon sequestration.  Protecting existing forests while regenerating natural forests is critical to protecting biodiversity and mitigating against climate change.  These forests can also provide the backbone for a green economy based on ecotourism.  By protecting its remaining forest resources, Madagascar would not only preserve the nation’s unique and globally significant natural heritage, but also foster sustainable economic opportunities.

By Michelle Zjhra, Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Officer, U.S. Embassy in Madagascar and Comoros