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DIVERSITY

Madagascar's geographic isolation has fostered a rich biodiversity, home to unique species like lemurs and colorful chameleons. However, rising population pressures and political instability threaten this paradise, leading to rampant illegal logging of its beloved rosewood for export, primarily to China. This article explores the socio-economic implications of resource extraction, from the laborers earning mere dollars a day to the multi-million dollar profits of the timber trade. As tourism declines, local livelihoods are further strained, urging a critical look at conservation efforts amidst economic challenges.

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DIVERSITY

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  1. DIVERSITY

  2. Where in the World?

  3. Where in the World?

  4. Synthesis • The island's geographic isolation created a wonderland of biological richness. Now population pressures and political turmoil speed the plunder of its rosewood, minerals and gems. THE PIERCED HEART of MADAGASCAR

  5. What brings Tourists? Morondava – Avenue of the Baobabs = deforested farmland

  6. Sketch in context Antalaha Masoala National Park Antongil Bay madagascar.mongabay.net

  7. Lemurs Colourful Lesser Chameleon Boababs

  8. Watch the sequence of eight slides … see if you can understand the process

  9. Process • Rosewood Cut in Masola National park is hauled to riverside banks in pre-cut sections • The Piroque men move this downstream in rafts continuously breaking up loads at cataracts • Collected at larger camps it is then transferred to vehicles for transportation to Antalaha • Eventually it will find itself to China – equivalent to $200 million in just a few months • Here it is used for furniture,

  10. Earnings • Cutter earn $6 a day – fell tree, remove white exterior and cut into 7 foot lengths • Two extractors drag the logs to the forest edge -1 to 2 days for $10 to $20 [400lbs each] • Radeau [raft] operators earn $25 a log down the rapids • Piroquemen paddle the flatter section [$12 a log] • Park officials bribed $200 for two weeks • Police officers $20 each on manned checkpoints • Middlemen select the logs and transfer these to trucks for $12 a log

  11. Rosewood • Rosewood Bound for China • Rosewood dining table can cost you $5000 • Timber exported largely to China – insatiable appetite • Most ‘barons’ still dabble in Vanilla too http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RosewoodPieces.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RosewoodGuitarBack.jpg

  12. Vanilla • Traditionally the main harvest based outside of Antalaha • Falling prices and cyclones have reduced output • Workers have explored new sectors to support their families

  13. Masoala National Park – Rosewood earns this forester $6 • Selectively cut from the forest • [typical Madgascan lives on a dollar a day] • 20 million growing at 3% a year

  14. Politics Aid falls off and Tourists decline leaving flowers unsold at the market following the 2009 Coup • 2002 Marc Raalomanana comes to power as president on a green platform • 2009 routed from power by the military • 2000 ban on exporting Rosewood • 2009 overturned by cash-strapped government

  15. Sapphire minersIlakaka • Most rights to prospect owned by foreign owned companies • Gold • Nickel • Cobalt • Ilmenite [titanium] • + Sapphire [1/3 of world market]

  16. Pipeline for Ambatovy Nickel Mine • Tolanarro • Anglo Australian company Rio Tinto • Good Neighbour project • Extraction or Ilmenite for titanium – paints., paper and plastic • Built new road, schools and employed locals • Now has also secured unique littoral forests with endemic species as well.

  17. $50 or best offer • Forest guide notices a real difference in the forest – very quiet • No lemur • Forest loggers supplement their poor diet of rice with Lemur • One group caught 16 Lemurs in one sitting • ~Most species polygamous but the INDRI has no tail [black and white] and is monogamous Locals [indigenous] either see the Lemur as evil or the realm of the white tourist

  18. All photographs Pascal Maitre • http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/09/madagascar/maitre-photography • Text from September 2010 National Geographic • Slide 20 Jud Mc Cranie – chess pieces + guitar back – creative commons – address illustrates licences http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/09/madagascar/maitre-photography

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