The Atsinanana Rainforest in Madagascar (East Africa), World Heritage Site since 2007, is now in danger, according to The United Nations' Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Here are random Online reactions from environmentalists and conservationists world wide since the declaration last week:
"In adding this site to the danger list, we are calling for international action to halt illegal logging and to also ensure that no illegally logged precious woods from Madagascar enter national markets," said Tim Badman, head of World Heritage at the IUCN.
“The situation is not just an environmental disaster, it is a pending humanitarian disaster, and we need to address this now” says Niall O’Connor WWF’s Regional Representative in Madagascar.
Dr. Mittermeier, president of Conservation International added: "This has also shattered the nation's tourist industry, which was a key driver in its economic development, and is pushing many species that exist nowhere else on earth to the brink of extinction. Hopefully adding this incredibly important area to the UNESCO Danger List will make the international community sit up and take notice of what is happening, and take serious steps to stop the destruction of Madagascar's incredible natural resources."
Madagascar, is generally better known for the Dreamworks film than for the people who live there. Carte Blanche, a TV program in South Africa has produced a documentary (10min) highlighting the illegal logging crisis will help you realise what is really happening :
Actions are needed to stop illegal logging and we should also consider reforestation program as part of the conservation solution.
About 52,000 tons of precious wood from 100,000 trees are estimated to have been cut in 2009 alone, possibly covering 20,000 hectares within the parks. An additional 500,000 trees were probably felled to help raft the heavy trees downstream, according to source… what it’s not said by UNESCO is the fact that it takes 400 years to rosewood (Dalbergia maritima) to grow a forest and we needs at least a centuries to regain a semblance of balance of primary precious woods original appearance.
I am sorry to take this occasion to talk about the initiatives of a malagasy NGO that I am involved in, which aims to reverse the phenomenon of deforestation in Madagascar. Technologists, rural development specialists, concervationists, concerned citizen joined force to NGO VAKANALA (mentioned above) in reaction to the obvious urgent need to preserve biodiversity hotspots and to engage in local development. This young non-profit organization set a goal to preserve the many little fragments of primary forests in the Island country. These fragments, the last remnants of natural forests which covered the Red Island before our era, are of paramount importance: it is first real sanctuary for the unique biodiversity of Madagascar, which it is a last refuge, but it is also a natural resource vital to the survival of rural communities to which they provide many services, natural raw materials, natural storage of rainwater, soil fertility, fight against desertification, and many others.
Deforestation is a major cause of global warming! VAKANALA (Pearls of the forest in Malagasy Language) have a bold program of reforestation, conservation, education and rural development, one village at the time.
Please help us increase awareness. Help us expose the Madagascar situation and support VAKANALA's project one way or another.
Photo courtesy © Flickr/by Frank.Vassen Lowland rainforest, Masoala National Park, Madagascar