In Madagascar, forestry issues are of increasing concern in the context of global change. This is why various actors, aware of the urgency of replanting, have come together to draw up a document consisting of 10 principles to boost reforestation campaigns. Attested by the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, these 10 principles serve as a reference and “must henceforth be respected by all the actors concerned”, according to the minister in charge, Marie-Orléa Vina.
Deforestation in Madagascar is considered one of the most concerning issues in the tropical world. Indeed, 20% of Madagascar’s territory is covered by forest, representing 13 million hectares. While between 50,000 and 100,000 hectares of forest are destroyed each year. This poses major problems of soil erosion and loss of biodiversity.
A practical guide to limit pressure on forests
Faced with this state of affairs, replanting is urgent. Reforestation campaigns are carried out here and there in this context. Recently, the Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development raised awareness of the need to reduce the pressure on natural forests based on the proposals published in the document. “It is a practical reference guide for all reforestation project leaders,” the ministry said in a statement. “This document brings together the knowledge and experience of around 100 stakeholders and more than 150 key figures have already committed to its implementation. This is why the Minister, Marie-Orléa Vina, insists that “these principles must be respected by all the actors involved on a national scale”.
Reforestation, a must for Madagascar
Reforestation is essential for Madagascar. This guarantees a better forest cover for the country. This is why, since 19 January 2022, the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development has launched a call for everyone’s participation in order to achieve its vision of “re-greening Madagascar”. “We know that reforestation is a vital issue for our country. If you fly over Madagascar, you can see that the island today has very large bare landscapes that are in the process of becoming desertified,” says Marie-Orléa Vina.
The island has lost 44% of its natural forests since the 1950s and the pace of deforestation is accelerating. With 90% of endemic species, this unique biodiversity is threatened with extinction. This devastation thus becomes a factor of poverty and destroys the basis for sustainable and inclusive development. While the traditional agrarian system, the collection of charcoal wood and the trafficking of precious wood are blamed, studies have shown that reforestation helps to combat desertification and drought and to limit the intensity of extreme phenomena such as floods.
Furthermore, studies have shown that the Malagasy population is expected to double between 2015 and 2050. However, it will need arable land to feed itself as well as wood and charcoal, the main source of energy on the island at the moment. The challenge for the Big Island is to reconcile the preservation of its natural heritage with the fight against poverty.
