Isalo National Park, Madagascar (photo: Bernard Gagnon)
160 million years ago, what is now called Madagascar–the world’s fourth largest island–broke free from its parent continent (Africa), allowing evolution to do some of its most creative work.
The Island, located just off the Southeast coast of Africa and roughly the size of California, is home to an amazing array of life-forms found no where else: bats (with suction cup “elbows”), the Silky Sifaka lemur (an ancient line of primate relatives), dozens of “new” species of scorpions and spiders, and an estimated 200 – 400 new species of frog (most of which have yet to be named). There are also numerous, unique species of plants. An estimated 80% of these new species (especially the frogs) exist only in protected areas of Madagascar’s remaining rain forests.
Nearly four fifths of the island’s rain forest have been cut down for farming, plantations, and other development purposes. But in the last decade, a favorable political climate (for science and scientists), aided by eco-tourism dollars, has opened up Madagascar’s biodiversity to the world and offered scientists unprecedented opportunities for new discoveries, research, and conservation of its unique flora and fauna. Madagascar, despite its accelerated loss of habitat over the past several decades, has been recognized as one of our Planet’s richest biodiversity “hot spots”.
But in March of this year, a political coup–following a bloody police crackdown by the ruling government– ousted the former president (a Mr. Ravalomanana) and installed a much younger leader (former DJ named Rajoelina). While arguably less corrupt and less deaf to the peoples’ complaints, the new leadership is struggling to contain the instability, shore up the drain of commerce dollars (much of which has come from tourism), and deal with rising inflation and unemployment. It is perhaps less shrewd about maintaining the island’s natural and scientific value–although it has recently shut down the Marojejy National Park due to rampant looting (of animals, trees, etc) and destruction. Most of the island nation’s foreign scientists have fled, some narrowly escaping injury or death.
Sadly, this is a common pattern throughout the world where either political instability and/or lax enforcement has led to massive poaching and/or black market trading of exotic species. In some cases, its a matter of food. The crisis in Madagascar was precipitated by a government deal that awarded one half of the island’s arable land to a Korean company for corn and palm oil production. This follows a world-wide pattern of foreign nations seeking resource exploitation of less wealthy, smaller nations. The threat or damage to resources is often over-looked in the interest of much needed money infusions to the economy. Currently, large-scale mining projects on the island are posing an additional threat to resource preservation efforts.
The international community has condemned the coup (but not the dubious economic deals that preceded it) and frozen most of its non-humanitarian aid. For now, the violence has ended. * However, economic uncertainty–ever-worsening since the financial crisis that began last year–is growing. Under such conditions, governments are often forced to sacrifice natural resources for economic gain, however short term.
Biological and ecological scientists around the world–many of which worked on the island for years–are waiting for stability to return to Madagascar and are using what political muscle they have to convince the new government to restore stability, and to resume and expand its eco-tourism trade. The survival of one of the world’s last, great, biodiversity hot spots depends on it.
* This statement was made based upon a news report in Science Magazine (March 27, 2009). Given the fact that I am writing about this 3rd/4th hand, and given the comments posted to this article (but which I note come from people who are also not currently in the country), it is reasonable to assume that reports of subsiding violence are unreliable, at best. I also note that the article recognizes on-going “instability” in the island nation, and this always brings the potential for violence. Such is the nature of modern science, sometimes–one steps into a political conflict when all one wishes is to conduct (or report on) science.
- M. R.
photo credit:
Bernard Gagnon on wikipedia.org
About Michael Ricciardi
You made an interesting statement about the new, transitional leadership. “While arguably less corrupt and less deaf to the peoples’ complaints”. I’m curious to know the reasons behind this opinion. The last president was certainly flawed, but I’ve seen absolutely no reason to believe the transitional government is a step in the right direction. Maybe you know something I don’t?
Is it a joke? As a Malagasy citizen I feel insulted.
Rajoelina “less corrupt and less deaf to the peoples’ complaints”? The majority of Malagasy are fed up with this new DJ dictatorship that most IC media are silencing. The chaos and destruction has started by his paid militia and the military junta that only wants money from December. Freedom is inexistent and Malagasy cannot demonstrate and express we only want democracy. I am glad that aids have been cut and have not reached the hands of that mad people that only wanted to control business and all island resources. They have actually sold lands to foreign companies and with Ravalomanana it was only a project. And their claims against Daewoo? This ipso facto government has been negotiating with Daewoo.
I don’t agree with “for now, violence has ended”.
There is still violence and terror in Madagascar, following to the Coup. But unfortunately, international media has been interested in something else lately (M. Jackson’s death, elections in Iran, etc).
Of course, many important things, if not major, occur in the world. But please it is definitely WRONG that violence has ended in Madagascar.
Thank you for your comments.
I will concede your point about violence on the island, as I am not there. However, I stand by my other statements in the article (partly for the same reasons, note: Rajoelina did have the foresight to close the national park once looting was discovered; this, in the midst of a coup, is no small thing).
This is most like a classic right vs left dialectic, or perhaps, sadly, another example of the succession from corruption and entrenched interest to over-throw, anarchy (temporary) and yes, more corruption. The new leadership, however bad, is new. The old leadership, in its deals with foreign companies, initiated (in my reading of things) the popular protest, which were met with the typical, politically oppressive tactic: violence…and this begets more violence as sides polarize.
Most likely, both governments were/are woefully lacking on differing matters. The purpose of the article was to high-light the endangerment to wildlife and conservation science when there is political instability in the making–and this “making” happens over a long term. Coups may happen suddenly, but the seeds of uprising are sown long before.
I hope that the good people of Madagascar can come together, restore stability, implement sustainable agricultural practices, institute and ramp-up conservation efforts, and re-inaugurate the eco-tourism trade…also: it is my hope that all parties there realize the tremendous biological “treasure” that surrounds them, and that they will seek always to preserve it for future generations.
Oh, one more thing: I am not in any way making an endorsement of either political “side” in this conflict. I respect your your right to have an opinion.
I have not direct knowledge of the conflict. But I do have historical knowledge of comparable coups and over-throws, and my instincts tell me that there are many sides to this conflict, and many random factors will influence it outcome. But this will take years to achieve.
I have only sincere wishes for a peaceful, sane resolution.
Dear Michael Ricciardi, I am very grateful for your answers.
FYI the park was looted when the Transitional Government started and gangs of military people looted it since April 2009 with guardians that could not do anything but denounced the situation. That area is remote but the news reached the capital provoking shock as natural parks were being preserved for the first time by the government supervised by different international organizations.
One online Malagasy information site informed about this terrible situation. It is called TopMada but it since June it has been mysteriously closed by this new Rajoelina dictatorship power (worst than Ratsiraka dictatorship in three decades). Possibly by death threats and imprisonments of people against the coup d’etat as it is the hobby of Rajoelina group and you can read it in French their note about closure.
The country atmosphere is not normal at all with SS techniques.
If it has been recently closed is that this new government de facto has cut all trees of tropical wood they could and sold it for illegal exportation. They need easy money because all the international aids they wanted cannot be misused by them.
Madagascar is worse than ever. Just read all types of journals to get your own opinion (there are some like new Kim Il Sungs of the Indian Ocean telling big lies about the grandiose HAT movement and even lately obliging primary school kids to write official essay about their “great deeds” in official exam http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1492513.php/Madagascar_pupils_asked_to_spout_governments_development_agenda_ destroying Madagascar and all the traditional values… ).
Please follow also twitters and bloggers from Madagascar that are prosecuted and write in English so they have difficulties to follow.
There is violence with their new FIS SS Malagasy Rajoelina police, the freedom of demonstrate peacefully does not exist, many people are unemployed, prices of food soar because they burnt all the businesses which produced local products that are not ruled by their friends that were not successful, looting is normal- their new cars do not belong to them and even the old legal PM Manandafy is imprisoned after being kidnapped in front of media.
Even Ravalomanana has been accused as corrupted (I was not pro),it has been the first president that developed Madagascar and for the first time many Malagasy felt changes for better as others only thought about being richer and never developed anything.
I feel that there has been a complot in Madagascar for boycotting the GDP – real growth rate of 7% (2008 est.) CIA information https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ma.html
(excepting China and Madagascar most countries in the world had minus growth rate of economy). In the past Madagascar had only 0.1% growth rate now with the chaos minus.
Curiously enough, Madagascar became one of the first country benefitting the Millenium challenge with Ravalomanana http://www.mcc.gov/
Read the criteria to get it. Transparency and democracy were primordial. We have lost a big opportunity to develop and things were going better than ever with decades of stagnation and total poverty.
Furthermore, the petrol that has been discovered and the president did not give the rule to some foreign countries that have backed this mad young man who is destroying all signs of development.
As a journalist it is better to get further information because as a Malagasy citizen we do not feel at all peace but regression that even Ratsiraka seemed to have done it better. We had famine by his mad North Korean policy but his close followers were enriching controlling all the commerce of exportation of this very rich island.
(FYI the father of Rajoelina was Ratsiraka’s accountant and most military backed the former dictator because Ratsiraka was a colonel who took power by a coup d’etat in the 70s)
Here you have the links about your the SAVA problem and ecological threats that only started with Rajoelina conflict and his coup d’etat.
http://www.topmada.com/2009/04/urgent-le-pillage-de-bois-de-rose-se-poursuit-et-sagrave-dans-la-sava/
http://rakotomalala.blogspot.com/2009/04/eyewitness-account-of-pillage-of.html
I am sorry for writing this post but Madagascar was a very peaceful country. But as Afro-Asian Indonesian character and values people did not protest about the lies and dictatorship of Ratsiraka until 2002. Elections were tricked and during 5 months people protested very peaceful against Ratsiraka.
This time since the end of 2008 one violent group wanted us to go against the legal government of Ravalomanana and “Daewoo project” that was not implemented. They had not the national support (but the one of some media with the lie of Daewoo they filtered globally) they expected and they started to used poor kids as soldiers, they freed convicts and give money to low military to revolt against high grades being many drugged them to provoke violence like Rwanda and a genocide against the ones they saw as rivals in export Malagasy business and companies.
I am deeply sad that international media are not tackling this severe issue Malagasy with Malagasy tormented since December 2008 but under new military junta regime since April. Many Malagasy are exhausted and psychologically destroyed but we will fight for expressing the truth, even in Madagascar there is high censorship and people are totally threatened to death.
I am sorry to post all this but I would like that worldwide people would know the truth.
Apart from Honduras and Mauritania, in Madagascar there is a new dictatorship after a coup d’etat.
I post you two videos of Journeyman pictures about the two crisis that seem more objective if you allow to share to readers so they have a better idea of those unknown Malagasy events.
There are more visual documents about this new regime and repression that have not reached international media because images are very crude and many backed Rajoelina against Daewoo but nobody explains the continuation. Due to shame of having backed a DJ dictator?
The one of 2002, a very peaceful movement backed by mainstream Malagasy for real democracy after three decades of dictatorship by Ratsiraka.
The one of 2009 that has been instigated by a minority and very violent using military by Rajoelina.
I would like the truth being disclosed as in Honduras or Iran. Regarding Mauritania it happens the same as Madagascar…
I am EU citizen and an anthropologist. I have read your article and I am wondering where have you found the information that Madagascar has no violence and this usurpator of power is better than the democratic president. I have many friends and acquaintances in Madagascar and the situation is unbearable. I think that many countries wanted to get the gas of Madagascar.
Or is the Government of Transition paying you to write this bunch of lies as the Daewoo thing?
I suggest you that before writing one article you consult many media. There is no freedom of speech there and news are filtered. EU and all African organizations and even the USA know that in Madagascar the situation is abnormal.
This source could help you
http://www.topix.com/world/madagascar
I’m really surprised by the press today. You are perhaps trying to provide sensation that not responds to the realities. The Madagascar country had reach one of the best level of Transparensy indicator (3,5) in Africa before the coup. And now, it should be the last one. The hugest deforestation never seen during the last 100 years show many evidences on a gang organisation linked directly to the coup author. Corruption had started days after the coup and a gang organisation, including some sponsors of the coup, started to export the rare wood illegally. One mounth ago, the gang organisation got an authorisation by decree to export many hectares of the rare wood from the last forest that the former governement will to preserve.