Oh No! Deforestation!

Deforestation in Madagascar is largely the result of three activities: 

1) Tavy or slash-and-burn agriculture 

After a year or two of production the field is left empty for four to six years before the process is repeated. After two or three such cycles, the soil is worn out of nutrients and the land is likely colonized by scour vegetation or poor grasses. On slopes, the new vegetation is often insufficient to secure soils, making erosion and landslides a common problem. Tavy is the most practical way for many Malagasy to provide for their families, and where day-to-day survival is a question there is little concern for the long-term consequences of the actions. Tavy for rice has spiritual and cultural ties that go beyond the economic and nutritional value of rice being a crop, and only a crop.

2) Logging for timber

Logging for timber is an increasing problem especially in the rainforests of Madagascar, particularly on the Masoala peninsula. The high value for Malagasy hardwoods (mostly ebony and rosewood, which are both very costly) makes illegal logging a significant problem in various protected areas.

3) Fuelwood and charcoal production

The widespread spiny forests of Madagascar are being cut at an alarming rate for charcoal production.  Many local people are being forced to turn towards the nearest plant source, which is referred to as Alluaudia trees.  Scarcity of these trees may result if problems continue.

                                       Alluaudia Plant                          Fuelwood and Charcoal

When did deforestation begin?

Unfortunately, this problem began when Madagascar was annexed as a French colony in 1896.  Along with the annexation (the adding of Madagascar) came uncertain political activities and famine (starvation). This scared many of the Malagasy (those living in Madagascar) and they fled to the woods for survival. These farmers started a practice of shifting cultivation as a means of survival. Shifting cultivation is "a continuous system of cultivation in which temporary fields are cleared, usually burned, and subsequently cropped for fewer years than they are fallowed" 

Does population play a role in deforestation?

Population growth didn't play a major role in forest degradation in Madagascar until 1940.  This started happening when vaccines were introduced, lowering the death rate.  Yes, this is a good thing because more people are living longer lives.  However, the country was not ready and not prepared for this.  During the next 40 years the population greatly increased from 4.2 million to 9.2 million. This meant that natural resources were being used more and more, making less and less available.

What else?

Along with deforestation come forest fires.  Every year as much as a third of Madagascar burns. Fires set for land-clearing and pastureland spread into neighboring wildlands, causing damage to the island's unique ecosystems.  Fast occurring deforestation can be linked to many global issues such as global warming and soil erosion.  If the forests continue to be rapidly destroyed this can have serious consequences on the world. Madagascar's historic problem of deforestation can be linked to the harmful policies of the colonial state in terms of land use and agriculture.