Future of ecosystem

President Marc Ravalomana created the Madagascar Action Plan which was established to lead to rapid growth and reduce poverty. In March 2009 though, he was exiled and since then illegal logging and trade in wildlife escalated in the protected areas. The new transitional government is currently failing to maintain commitments to protect these national forests and even granted permission to 13 operators to each export 25 containers of ebony and rosewood. Two major donors, United States and World Bank even said they would withdraw non humanitarian aid due to the change of government. With the lack of control and decline in foreign aid, there will be an increase in deforestation in the ecosystem. It was said by vice president of Conservation International’s Africa program, “Park staff and management authorities have been deprived of the resources and mechanisms they need to prevent illegal logging”. Between January and October 2009 it was estimated that 7,000 cubic meters of rosewood and ebony were cut and shipped each month to Madagascar’s ports.  With the increased pressure on protected forests many of the island’s rare species are being threatened toward extinction. Madagascar’s tropical rainforests are heading towards an increase of deforestation due to the lack of government maintenance, increasing population, and current agricultural techniques. This ecosystem will be damaged to the point where it will not ever return to its original state if illegal logging is not stopped or minimized greatly.

"Political Unrest Portends Ecological Ruin in Madagascar." World Watch Jan.-Feb. 2012: 7. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://www.scribd.com/doc/24302240/World-Watch-Magazine-Jan-Feb-2010#outer_page_7>.