The Mikea Forest Under Threat (southwest Madagascar) : How public policy leads to conflicting territories

The Mikea Forest Under Threat (southwest Madagascar) : How public policy leads to conflicting territories

Blog Article

With 10 million hectares, forest covers only 16% of the territory of Madagascar in 2005.Deforestation is attaining alarming proportions and is recognized as a major environmental problem.This process has recently accelerated, particularly in the southwest of the country.The main factor promoting deforestation is slash-and-burn maize cultivation.

Pioneer agriculture is developing rapidly at the expense of the forest.Loss of forest is linked to several factors: demographic pressure caused by immigration, saturation of the most fertile lands, the relaxation of state regulations on forest clearing, LED Visor and above all the role of maize cultivation associated with a booming export market.The maize fever causes irreversible destruction of the dry forest since the process of deforestation is followed by a process of savannization.Land clearing is a strategy for controlling resources and development of a territory.

It was not until the late 1990s that environmental policies were designed to reduce the loss of forest cover and conserve the endemic flora and fauna of such a large area.The creation of the Mikea national park is currently underway.But the process has been slowed by an ilmenite mining project which poses a new threat to Mugs the forest.Furthermore, since 2008, an oil exploration licence has been granted in this area.

The conflicting land uses of three government-sponsored projects destabilize local populations who have been encouraged by the state to preserve the forest.