Main Threats

The main threat to Madagascar's astonishing biodiversity as a whole is habitat destruction, the effect of which is intensified by the very uniqueness of its inhabitants that makes the island so special.

The beauty of relatively small, cut-off places is that its inhabitants have had time to evolve separately from any relatives they may have elsewhere and, more importantly, immune to competition from outsiders; so, since they have to adapt to different conditions, they develop characteristics often completely unique, sometimes seemingly bizarre, but perfectly fitted to their surroundings and way of life. This fact, too, can be their undoing: in being restricted to a small area to begin with, any loss or change in habitat, no matter how small , can have catastrophic effects; even the introduction of a minor disease will spread quickly through a whole population and could wipe an entire species out.

The spread of humanity, along with all that implies – alteration of the landscape, introduction of alien species, pollution, poaching – has had a drastic effect on Madagascar's biodiversity.

But all is not lost – yet. Humans have now been living on the island for a couple of millennia, and can continue to do so in perfect harmony will wildlife, it just takes the right amount of care and commitment, appropriate studies and plausible measures to achieve a balance both people and wildlife, economy and ecology, can benefit from.

The clock is ticking It may require a lot of effort to set things right, but surely it's worth it!