International Nature Conservation

Nature Conservation 1/2010 — 16. 2. 2010 — International Nature Conservation — Print article in pdf

A Disaster Called Man

katastrofa jménem člověk

author: Zdeněk Patzelt

Unique biodiversity on Madagascar has been facing the disaster due to primary ecosystem degradation and destruction.

The danger is caused by enormous poverty on the island which also is reflected by ways how nature has been managed. Deforestation and short-term use of the obtained land, which is consequently occupied by pastures or rangelands and where soil erosion occurs, are similar to the Middle Age practices applied in Central European primeval forests. Therefore, lack of wood from native forests is compensated by establishing eucalypt (Eucalyptus spp.) plantations. Foreign aid for Madagascar is insufficient and it seems that thousands of species become extinct before their description by scientists. Isolated Madagascars location between Africa and Asia resulted in unique nature, rich in endemism. The rest of nature is protected in Natural Parks. Among them, Isalo, Andasibe, Ranomafana, Ambre, Ankarana and Bemaraha NP should be mentioned. Active protection in National Parks is based i.a. on relatively high entrance fees, guiding in the field by local people is obligatory and research permits and certificates should also be bought. In addition to lemurs (Lemuridae, Megaladapidae), the remarkable Madagaskars species include chameleons (Chamaeleonidae) and geckos (Gekkonidae). Species richness in frogs is also fascinating: of 300 species found there, 99 % are endemics, and many other have not been scientifically described. In the Isalo National Park, 238 endemic plant species occur, e.g. succulent aloes (Alo spp.), spurges (Euphorbia spp.), kalanchoes (Kalanchoe spp.) and particularly polypodies or rockcap ferns of the genus Pachypodium.