W/I Days Of Onset Of Political Unrest, Armed Gangs Began Looting Of Madagascar's Parks, Forests

[hatrack]

On March 17th of this year the President of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, resigned his post. This made way for Andry Rajoelina, mayor of Madagascar’s capital, to install himself as president with help from the military.

The unrest and confusion that usually accompanies such a coup brought disaster on many of Madagascar's biological treasures. Within days of Ravalomanana's resignation, armed gangs, allegedly funded by Chinese traders, entered two of Madagascar’s world-renowned national parks, Marojejy and Masoala parks, and began to log rosewood, ebonies, and other valuable hardwoods.

The pillaging lasted months. Park rangers were forced to leave their posts and parks were officially closed. Tourism stopped entirely: in a country where half of the children under five are malnourished this proved tragic for local economies. In addition, western nations stopped much of their financial aid into the country, just when the people needed it most.

The situation began to calm down over the summer. One sign of this is a recent action by authorities in Madagascar to block a shipment of illegally harvested wood until a fine is paid to the government. However, now that the crisis has abated—at least for the time being—it’s time to take stock. In order to do so, Mongabay spoke to Erik Patel, an expert on the Critically Endangered Silky Sifaka and frequent visitor to Madagascar, to find out what the damage looks like firsthand and to see what lessons might be learned.

EDIT

http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0811-hance_patel.html

Interesting interview!

[amborin]

1. so tragic!

wish there was a more concerted effort to boycott countries that use or trade in those
hardwoods and other forest woods

have a friend who went birding in Madagascar; what a tragedy to pillage this incredible treasure island of biodiversity