Madagascar Conservation & Development (E-Journal)
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Madagascar rich and intransparent
Get PDFMadagascar is one of the richest countries when it comes to natural and mineral resources. As is the case in many tropical countries, however, this wealth is bluntly coupled with an ever increasing poverty, where more than 92 % of the 21 million inhabitants are living below 5 billion or only US$600 million. The question which goes begging is, why is the World Bank suddenly trying to find a legal solution for the stocks, when they de facto have already been removed from Madagascar and transported to Asia? We propose the following hypotheses as some food for thought: (i) There is insufficient information to assess the quantity and value of the remaining stocks. If any stock does indeed remain, it does represent a threat to the natural resources, and in principle, conservation NGOs cannot support the legalizing of the sale of such stocks. This implies that in the past, the legalizing and therefore selling of timber held in stocks represented a threat to the remaining precious trees, i.e., it has led to further illegal logging (Randriamalala and Liu 2010). (ii) The stockpiled timber has already steadily and consistently been exported to China: the government, the conservation community, and the public are all cognizant of this. There is a complex financial arrangement proposed by the international funding agencies and promoters of democracy, to appease all the parties involved in the case of dealing in illegally-felled rosewood3.Hypothesis 1 appears naïve and almost unrealistic, given that the case is well known by all the parties involved. Hypothesis 2 requires a deeper understanding of the financial, legal, and institutional mechanisms involved, since international funding agencies and the World Bank are not allowed to support an illegitimate government (i.e., one which assumed power through a coup d’état). The question which remains alludes to a problem which may be described as “wicked”, for lack of a better prescriptive (cf. Rittel and Webber 1973): how can someone make more money from a product which has already been sold?We will try to shed some light by performing a reductio ad absurdum, which entails a step - by - step hypothetical appeasing of every party or individual involved in the rosewood trafficking process. To begin with, we ask the question: where do the interests of the various actors, really lie? This may be answered as follows: (i) Some, such as international funding agencies and NGOs seek a ‘green’ image. (ii) Others wish to be seen as promoters of democracy (western countries). (iii) Some are in a position of being in dire need of funding: they include certain NGOs and the Malagasy government. (iv) Some are lenders of money: these are the funding agencies and foreign governments. (v) There are some seeking to launder money, i.e., timber sellers and buyers.To ‘green - wash’ the illegally - sourced logs, necessitates the issuance of a CITES permit, something which could be lobbied for by NGOs, who would then receive money from the funding agencies, officially to help them protect the wildlife. On the other hand, timber traders and buyers would thereby legalize their business, and push for the supporting of the required democratic process, i.e., the ongoing elections. Therefore, the value of the legalized stocks of wood would lie in its ‘greening - up’ of the buyers’ profiles, and allow some of the laundered money to flow back to Madagascar so that ‘business as usual’ could continue.Let’s take a step back though: Hypothesis 2 appears to be in the realms of the absurd. The World Bank and other international funding agencies should not take such a risk: despite their interests to support democracy, development and conservation, they should not get involved in the green - washing of illegal timber. Furthermore, international NGOs should never invest effort in lobbying for a CITES permit allowing for sale of illegally logged ebony and rosewood. NGOs are well aware of the risks involved in such a procedure, and legalizing illegally-traded logs could potentially once again open up the forests to further illegal tree felling and trafficking. Which takes us back to square one: the million dollar question that goes begging pertains to the true level of transparency when it comes to the intentions of all parties involved in this process.The second case is on a smaller scale, and concerns wetlands, which are among the most threatened ecosystems in Madagascar (Thieme et al. 2005, Rabearivony et al. 2010).Case 2: Alaotra marshlands, vanishing in a puff of smoke? The Lake Alaotra wetland constitutes the biggest wetland system in Madagascar and is of national importance for its fish and rice production. About 23,000 hectares of marshlands fringe the lake, delivering crucial ecosystem services (water, plant material, fish stock) while hosting unique wildlife such as Hapalemur alaotrensis, the only primate species living constantly in marshland, or the recently described carnivore Salanoia durrelli, also adapted to wetland. International conservation efforts have been ongoing since the 1990s to sustain this wetland biodiversity and ecosystem, leading to the inscription of the entire Alaotra wetland as the third Ramsar site in Madagascar in 2003. The government of Madagascar then acknowledged the system’s biodiversity and conservation values by classifying the wetland as a New Protected Area within national law N°381-2007/ MINENVEF/MAEP on 17 January 2007. Though formally protected, there are increasing pressures on this wetland. The region is dominated by rice paddies, with all the terrain already claimed; the marshlands hence represent a future reservoir for rice production. The increasing scarcity in production capacity is further accentuated by changing hydrologic balance and leads to an underproduction of the existing rice fields. This forces resource users further into the remaining marshlands. For example, the number of rice fields within the lakefront (the so called riz de contre-saison) has increased significantly in the past years (Ratsimbazafy et al. In press). The same accounts for the number of fires. According to the same authors, the years 2000 and 2004 have been extreme fire years affecting more than 40% of the entire marshland area. In 2012, the number of fires from October to December exceeded 150 cases (ibid). The year 2013 appears set to break any previous records. According to MWC (Madagascar Wildlife Conservation) and DWCT (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust), the marshes are being burnt at an unprecedented level with, for example, a few fires affecting several hundred hectares within a few days in October 2013 alone. The local management and monitoring entities such as VOI (Vondron’Olona Ifototra) and CFL (Comité Forestier Local) are hopelessly overwhelmed by the many fires, while national actors such as DWCT and MWC can only gather evidence to describe the breaches of the legal or regulatory framework that are being perpetrated. It is very interesting to note that marsh (and forest) fires have reached a peak during this electoral period, where some political actors have repeatedly been observed promising land in exchange for votes. Alaotra represents a case specifically where actors outside of the system, instigate local communities to burn marshland for the sake of rice production (Ratsimbazafy et al. In press). However it is difficult to judge clearly when the smoke is so heavy over the lake. As is the case with many other governments, the Malagasy government is faced with the challenge of balancing the interests of its citizens, which are often in stark contrast with those of players or parties within the international community. The value of Madagascar’s resource richness is measured differently by the different stakeholders, and thus governance of these natural resources has become increasingly more complex, and promises to do so even more in the near future. What constitutes a serious hindrance in sound governance is the fact that many of the processes are difficult to trace and assess due to an evident lack of transparency as discussed in these two cases. To strengthen governance depends first and foremost on the political will of the hosting country to improve its governance system, and hence to accept monitors to maintain observation over its performance. This however, requires a marked stepping up of transparency and accountability. At present, the bleak and questionable scenario painted by the above two cases presented here, seem to imply that for the people of Madagascar, its rich biodiversity may be more of a curse than a blessing
Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) and ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) endoparasitism at the Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve
Get PDFAs hosts, primate behavior is responsible for parasite avoidance and elimination as well as parasite acquisition and transmission among conspecifics. Thus, host behavior is largely responsible for the distribution of parasites in free-ranging populations. We examined the importance of host behavior in acquiring and avoiding parasites that use oral routes by comparing the behavior of sympatric Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) and ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) inhabiting the Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve (BMSR) in Madagascar. For each species, two groups lived in a protected parcel and two groups lived in anthropogenically-disturbed forests. Analysis of 585 fecal samples revealed that the BMSR ring-tailed lemurs harbored six species of nematode worms and three species of protistan parasites. The sifaka harbored only two nematodes. Differences in richness and prevalence appear to be linked to host behavior and the ecological distribution of their parasites. To understand the interplay between behavioral mechanisms to avoid or transmit parasites, we analyzed 683 hours of behavioral observations. BMSR ring-tailed lemurs were observed on the ground significantly more than sifaka and this terrestrial substrate use provides greater opportunities for soil-transmitted parasites to acquire a host. Ring-tailed lemurs using the anthropogenically-disturbed forests harbored parasites not found in the groups inhabiting the protected parcel which they may be acquiring via coprophagy or contact with feces. The arboreality of sifaka allows them to evade most soil-transmitted endoparasites and the patterns of parasitism exhibited by sifaka living in the anthropogenically-disturbed forests did not deviate from the patterns observed among the sifaka living in the protected parcel. RÉSUMÉ En tant qu’hôtes, les lémuriens interviennent dans l’acquisition et la transmission de parasites entre les individus d’une population, mais aussi sur la prévention et l’élimination de ces parasites. Leur comportement est donc largement responsable de la distribution des parasites au sein d’une population non contrôlée. Dans notre étude, nous avons examiné l’importance des facteurs comportementaux lors de l’acquisition et l’évitement des parasites transmis par voie orale en comparant le comportement des Propithèques de Verreaux (Propithecus verreauxi) et des Makis (Lemur catta) se trouvant dans la Réserve Spéciale du Bezà Mahafaly (RSBM) à Madagascar. Deux groupes de chacune de ces espèces étaient distribués dans une parcelle protégée et deux autres dans des forêts dégradées par l’activité humaine. L’analyse de 585 échantillons fécaux a révélé que les makis de la RSBM étaient infestés par six espèces de nématodes et trois espèces de parasites protistes tandis que les Propithèques de Verreaux ne l’étaient que par deux espèces de nématodes. Les différences de densité et de fréquence auxquelles étaient trouvés les parasites semblaient être liées au comportement des hôtes et à la distribution écologique de leurs parasites. Pour comprendre la relation entre les mécanismes comportementaux et la transmission des parasites, nous avons analysé le comportement des Propithèques et des Makis lors de 683 heures d’observations. Les Makis de la RSBM ont été observés à terre beaucoup plus souvent que les Propithèques. Cette utilisation du substrat terrestre augmente les possibilités des parasites du sol de trouver un hôte. Les Makis se trouvant dans les forêts perturbées étaient infestés de parasites absents des excréments des lémuriens distribués dans la parcelle protégée. Il est possible que les parasites aient été transmis par coprophagie ou par contact avec des matières fécales. La tendance des Propithèques à vivre dans les arbres leur permet d’éviter la contagion par la plupart des parasites liés au sol et le comportement des Propithèques distribués dans les forêts perturbées ne diffère guère de celui des Propithèques distribués dans la parcelle protégée
Limestone cliff - face and cave use by wild ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) in southwestern Madagascar
Get PDFRing-tailed lemurs live in a range of habitats in southwestern Madagascar. To date, much of the knowledge of ring-tailed lemur ecology, biology and behavior come from riverine gallery forests sites. Recent years have seen an expansion of comprehensive research on this resilient species, including areas of limestone spiny forest along Madagascar’s southwestern coast. This work is documenting newly discovered behaviors by this species. The regular use of cliff-faces and embedded crevices and caves by ring-tailed lemurs in southwestern Madagascar are reported here. Cave use by several anthropoid primates has been explained as a thermoregulatory behavior. It is suggested that cliff-face and cave use by these ring-tailed lemurs serves several purposes, including resource acquisition, thermoregulation, and as an anti-predator avoidance strategy in the absence of suitable large sleeping trees. Observations indicate that the limestone boundaries of the Mahafaly Plateau and their associated xerophytic scrub forests warrant further conservation attention, given the presence of behavioral variation and increasing threats to this endangered primate species. RÉSUMÉLemur catta occupe divers habitats dans le Sud-ouest de Madagascar. L’écologie, la biologie et le comportement de Lemur catta sont actuellement mieux connus des populations vivant dans les forêts riveraines et les zones environnantes. Pour mieux comprendre cette espèce de lémurien, les recherches ont été étendues à d’autres habitats dont les forêts épineuses du plateau calcaire qui est situé le long du littoral Sud-ouest de Madagascar. Dans cette étude nous rapportons les comportements récemment découverts de Lemur catta qui utilise les falaises et les grottes dans le Sud-ouest de Madagascar. L’utilisation des grottes par la plupart des primates hominoïdes est liée à un avantage thermorégulateur offert par ce milieu. Dans notre cas, l’exploitation de falaises et de grottes par Lemur catta semble être associée à un mécanisme permettant d’échapper aux prédateurs et à l’absence de grands arbres qui devaient servir de dortoirs. De sorte que les falaises et les forêts épineuses du plateau calcaire Mahafaly ont besoin d’une conservation particulière car nos résultats de suivis montrent que les changements de comportement du lémurien emblématique de cette région trouve vraisemblablement son origine dans la dégradation de l’environnement de cette espèce
Les lémuriens du site Ramsar de Torotorofotsy
Get PDFLes différentes ressources naturelles et potentialités économiques du marais de Torotorofotsy et de ses bassins versants justifient l’appellation de « Ramsar ».du site. Ce dernier abrite plusieurs espèces menacées de disparition : des amphibiens (Mantella aurantiaca et M. crocea), des oiseaux (Anas melleri, Sarothrura watersi et Tyto soumagnei), des mammifères carnivores (Cryptoprocta ferox) ainsi que des lémuriens. La présente étude stipule qu’il y existe treize espèces de lémuriens ; parmi ces espèces, six sont classées « En danger » (Prolemur simus, Indri indri, Propithecus diadema, Hapalemur griseus, Eulemur rubriventer, Daubentonia madagascariensis), une « Quasi menacée » (Eulemur fulvus), une « Non menacée » (Avahi laniger) et cinq « Non évaluées » (Allocebus trichotis, Cheirogaleus major, C. crossleyi, Microcebus lehilahytsara et Lepilemur mustelinus). Les potentialités économiques de cette localité (ressources forestières, terrains agricoles et ressources minières) incitent à l’immigration dont on peut déjà voir des conséquences sur une partie de Torotorofotsy et de ses bassins versants : exploitation forestière, transformation de la forêt en tavy et altération des marais en zones agricoles. L’implantation du projet d’extraction de nickel-cobalt d’Ambatovy à l’ouest du site a mené à la construction d’un pipeline traversant le marais, ce qui facilite l’accès au site mais amplifie la pression anthropique sur l’environnement et entraine la dégradation de cette biodiversité particulière à la région. Des études environnementales et socio-économiques ont été effectuées pour réajuster le plan de gestion et de conservation du site. Pour ce qui est des lémuriens, les études de pression et de menaces basées sur la méthodologie du ‘The Nature Conservancy’ et celle de ‘la Conservation du site Ramsar’, focalise les efforts de conservation, pour ce site, sur six espèces à haut risque de disparition : Prolemur simus, Propithecus diadema, Indri indri, Eulemur rubriventer, Daubentonia madagascariensis et Allocebus trichotis. AbstractThe Torotorofotsy wetlands Ramsar site is rich in natural resources and has great economic potential. Several threatened species, including amphibians (Mantella aurantiaca and M. crocea), birds (Anas melleri, Sarothrura watersi and Tyto soumagnei), carnivores (Cryptoprocta ferox) and lemurs distinguish the site. This study documents the presence of thirteen species of lemur, of which six are considered threatened (Prolemur simus, Hapalemur griseus, Eulemur rubriventer, Propithecus diadema, Indri indri and Daubentonia madagascariensis), one is classed Near Threatened (Eulemur fulvus), one Least Concern (Avahi laniger) and five Data Deficient (Allocebus trichotis, Cheirogaleus major, C. crossleyi, Microcebus lehilahytsara and Lepilemur mustelinus). The economic potential (forest resources, agricultural land and mineral resources) of the site has stimulated immigration to the area. As a result one part of Torotorofotsy has been subjected to forest exploitation, some areas of forest have been transformed by tavy and a large part of the wetlands has come under cultivation. The nickel and cobalt exploitation by the Ambatovy Project is located to the west of Torotorofotsy, thus one part of the pipeline runs through the marshland facilitating access to the site. The attraction and migration of human populations to the site generates pressures on the environment and subsequently accelerates the degradation of its biodiversity. Several studies based on the methodology of the ‘The Nature Conservancy’ and ‘the Conservation of Ramsar site’ have been conducted in order to implement and revise the management plan of this site. At Torotorofotsy, lemur conservation efforts should be focused on the six species at higher risk: Prolemur simus, Propithecus diadema, Indri indri, Eulemur rubriventer, Daubentonia madagascariensis and Allocebus trichotis
Partnership in practice: making conservation work at Bezà Mahafaly, southwest Madagascar
Get PDFBezà Mahafaly has been the site of a partnership for conservation since 1975, long before the idea of community - based conservation became widely accepted in Madagascar or elsewhere in the world. Today, the Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve protects 4,600 ha of riverine, transitional and spiny forest with a rich endemic fauna. This paper provides a summary of the thirty - seven year history of the initiative, focusing on three issues: our evolving interpretation of the term ‘community’, the integral role of politics and economics in developing the partnership, and the linkage between local, regional and national influences that were experienced in some contexts as constraints and in others as opportunities. We draw five conclusions that we hope will be of interest to those engaged in similar activities in Madagascar and elsewhere: (i) the importance of relationships and trust, and the length of time it takes to build both; (ii) the inherent fragility of community - based collaborations, which depend heavily on particular individuals and the pressures on people’s lives; (iii) the importance of sustained financial inputs and challenge of diversifying these inputs; (iv) the need for mechanisms to distribute costs and benefits that are accepted as fair, and for methods to track that distribution; and (v) the central roles of improvisation and opportunism in the face of high levels of uncertainty, and the unanticipated key role played by a village-based environmental monitoring team. Résumé Bezà Mahafaly a été le site sur lequel un partenariat pour la conservation de la nature a œuvré depuis 1975, à savoir bien avant que n’émerge l’idée de la conservation basée sur la participation de la communauté locale qui est maintenant acceptée à Madagascar et ailleurs dans le monde. Aujourd’hui, la Réserve Spéciale de Bezà Mahafaly protège 4600 ha de forêts galeries, de forêts de transition et de forêts épineuses qui abritent une faune endémique d’une grande richesse. Le partenariat engage la Commune d’Ankazombalala, l’Université d’Antananarivo et ses collaborateurs internationaux, et Madagascar National Parks. Dans cet article, nous présentons un aperçu sur l’historique de cette initiative, après lequel nous considérons trois questions. La première question porte sur l’évolution de notre interprétation du terme ‘communauté’. Pendant les premières décennies, nous englobions surtout sous ce terme les autorités locales, les chefs traditionnels ou les chefs des associations villageoises. Notre compréhension est plus globale aujourd’hui, mais nous pouvons admettre que nous aussi, les universitaires et les agents de Madagascar National Parks, représentons une ‘confusion communautaire’ aux yeux des gens de la Commune. La seconde question aborde le rôle intégral de la politique locale et de l’économie dans le développement du partenariat. Le récit historique comprend quatre phases qui correspondent largement aux changements d’approches caractérisant l’initiative depuis son début: conclure un marché, chercher la réciprocité, forger la collaboration et lancer un vrai partenariat équilibré pour la conservation de la nature. L’engagement politique au niveau local était fondamental pour nos efforts à partir de 1975 et rendait des services économiques qui ne portaient pas directement sur la conservation de la nature. Loin de représenter une défaite, ces activités étaient essentielles pour former le partenariat. Enfin, la troisième question concerne les relations entre les influences locales, régionales et nationales, que nous avons parfois ressenties comme des contraintes, mais également comme des opportunités à saisir. En 1975, une grande tension existait entre les buts poursuivis par le partenariat et le contexte législatif national car ce dernier imposait des aires protégées vues ‘d’en haut’. L’isolement de Bezà Mahafaly et l’intervention des universités ont pu atténuer en partie le poids de cette hiérarchie. La politique nationale de décentralisation des années 1990, par contre, a renforcé les activités sur le terrain. Pour conclure, nous détaillons cinq considérations qui pourraient servir à de futurs efforts: (i) l’importance de la confiance mutuelle qui dépend des relations humaines et se met en place avec le temps; (ii) la fragilité des collaborations communautaires qui dépendent de certaines personnes bien particulières et des contraintes de la vie quotidienne de la population ; (iii) l’importance des appuis financiers à long terme ainsi que l’obligation inhérente de les diversifier; (iv) la nécessité de mettre en place des mécanismes pour partager les avantages ainsi que les coûts des efforts qui soient acceptables aux yeux de la communauté; (v) l’importance capitale de l’improvisation et de l’adaptation face aux incertitudes, et le rôle clé mais inattendu dans la formation du partenariat à Bezà Mahafaly qui a été joué par une équipe villageoise dans le suivi de l’environnement
Suivi du Gecko Phelsuma serraticauda (Squamata : Gekkonidae) dans la région Atsinanana, dans l’Est de Madagascar
Get PDFRÉSUMÉ Cette étude a été effectuée sur le Gecko Phelsuma serraticauda durant les mois d’octobre et décembre 2008 dans 57 sites dans l’est et nord-est de Madagascar. Elle a pour objectifs de déterminer l’aire de distribution dans l’est de Madagascar et l’utilisation d’habitat de cette espèce pour sa conservation et son utilisation durable. La plupart des observations des individus sur les plantes sont sur le cocotier Cocos nucifera (84,3 %) et le fruit de pain Artocarpus altilis (4,9 %), avec 8,3 % sur le mur d’une maison en bois. Le nombre de P. serraticauda varie entre un et cinq par biotope avec une moyenne de 2,6 ± 0,2 pour l’ensemble des plantes et de 1,7 ± 0,4 pour les maisons. Parmi les 29 pieds de cocotier, 34 % sont occupés chacun par un seul individu mâle ou femelle, 14 % par deux femelles, 10 % par deux mâles, 10 % par un mâle et une femelle, et 10 % par deux mâles et une femelle. Le nombre moyen de mâle a été 1,06 ± 0,20 et 1,00 ± 0,15 pour la femelle. Sur les quatre maisons visitées, trois sont occupées chacune par une femelle et la dernière par trois mâles et deux femelles. Le nombre moyen de mâles a été 0,75 ± 0,75 et de 1,25 ± 0,25 pour les femelles. Phelsuma serraticauda est rarement trouvé sur des eucalyptus, Artocarpus heterophyllus et autres palmiers. Cette espèce n’est pas recensée dans la forêt humide de basse altitude d’Analalava, à la périphérie de la forêt littorale d’Antetezana et dans la plantation de Ravenala madagascariensis. L’analyse des matières fécales a montré que l’espèce se nourrit principalement d’araignées, coléoptères, hyménoptères, hémiptères et de leurs larves. Elle est sympatrique avec P. lineata et P. quadriocellata. La collecte de P. serraticauda dans la nature est allouée avec une autorisation légale et suivant le quota fixé par la CITES. Des cas de collecte illicite qui constitue une menace pour l’espèce de P. serraticauda, sont notés pendant cette étude. Compte tenu de l’état actuel des populations de P. serraticauda et de l’absence de mesures de conservation, un système de monitoring et un site de conservation pour cette espèce devraient être mis en place de toute urgence. Cette étude est la première réalisée sur cette espèce dans son état sauvage pour mieux comprendre ses besoins en termes d’habitat et les mesures de conservation à long terme de l’espèce. ABSTRACT The diurnal gecko Phelsuma serraticauda has a restricted range in eastern and northeastern Madagascar. A study was undertaken in 57 sites mostly in Ivoloina and its surroundings areas in October (phase 1) and December (phase 2) 2008. The main objectives were to elucidate the distribution area in the east of Madagascar and to determine the habitat use of P. serraticauda to help ensure its conservation and sustainable use. Most of the observations on plants were from coconut tree Cocos nucifera (84.3 %) and breadfruit Artocarpus altilis (Moraceae, 4.9 %), with 8.3 % from houses. The number of P. serraticauda per biotope varied between one and five with means of 2.6 ± 0.2 for all plants and 1.7 ± 0.4 for the houses. Among the 29 coconut trees, 34 % were each occupied by one male or female, 14 % by two females, 10 % by two males, 10 % by one male and one female, 10 % by two males and one female. The mean number of male of P. serraticauda on the coconut trees was 1.06 ± 0.20 and 1.00 ± 0.15 for female. Among the four analysed houses, three were occupied by one female and one by three males and two females. The mean number of male P. serraticauda on the houses was 0.75 ± 0.75 and 1.25 ± 0.25 for female. Phelsuma serraticauda was also found infrequently on Eucalyptus sp., Artocarpus heterophyllus, and other palm trees such as Dypsis sp. This species of gecko was not recorded in the humid forest of Analalava, in the edge of the Antetezana littoral forest, and in the vast plantation of Ravenala madagascariensis situated in the surrounding areas of Ivoloina. Results from faecal analysis showed that P. serraticauda prey mostly on spiders, coleopterans and hymenopterans, hemipterans and their larvae. Phelsuma serraticauda was found sympatrically with P. lineata and P. quadriocellata. The collection of this species in the wild is allowed with legal authorization and with respect to the quotas fixed by CITES. We have noted cases of illegal collection of P. serraticauda during this study. The trade constitutes a threat for this gecko. Its populations are fragmented and are also threatened by habitat loss. Bearing in mind the lack of current conservation measures and the present state of the populations of P. serraticauda, a monitoring system and a conservation site for this species should be urgently established. This study is the first on this species in the wild and constitutes the beginning of many studies needed to better understand its habitat requirements and to ensure the long term survival of the species
Love me tender – Transition vers où ?
Get PDFRÉSUMÉ Depuis le coup d’État de 2009, la transition menée par Andry Rajoelina, dure malgré l’absence de tout mandat électif. Même si l’inertie de cette situation est parfois relativisée par des pressions nationales ou extérieures, elle est légitimée par la passivité de la résistance et par des promesses récurrentes d’élections futures. Cependant, ces trois années nous permettent au moins de cerner la vision des autorités actuelles quant au développement de Madagascar. Les gouvernants de facto semblent baser ce développement sur l’exploitation des ressources minières; ils inscrivent ainsi le pays dans une politique menant à l’effondrement du reste de l’économie ainsi qu’à la dilapidation du capital environnemental et humain. Or, ce choix fait de Madagascar une victime facile de la « malédiction des matières premières » dont une minorité seulement profite et dont les conséquences à long terme sont désastreuses. L’ensemble de la société est alors amené à s’interroger sur les valeurs sur lesquelles elle entend bâtir les vertus civiques et sur la capacité de la « transition » à mener le pays sur les rails du développement durable basé sur une démocratie stable. ABSTRACT Following the March 2009 coup, the government led by former ‘disc jockey’ Andry Rajoelina, has managed to perpetuate in the absence of any elections. Several reasons explain this longevity, of which the lack of legitimacy of his undertaking which has led to passive resistance. The authorities however, do want to prepare elections to legitimize their power. Being in command of the State, these authorities benefit from the administrative privilege of organising elections. This would allow them to be elected, according to well-established mechanisms. The integration of members of the opposition into the institutions of transition illustrates the relative failure of this strategy; failure due to internal pressure and the reticence of international donors. Nevertheless these three years allow us to determine the visions that the de facto leaders hold of development on the Grande Ile. To achieve their goals, they count in particular on making use of the ‘manna’ from mining, which will flow from several mining companies in a few months. Several warning signs serve to indicate that Madagascar is a victim of the ‘curse of raw materials’ and will be even more so in the future. While this strengthens the militarisation of political power, this curse emerges in a worrying fashion in at least three ways: i) the collapse of the real and informal economies not linked to the mining sector; ii) the squandering of natural capital with the hurried exportation of raw materials with little value added (the resources acquired thanks to the sale of mineral and more general natural resources are currently invested in sectors that do not provide social benefits in the long term. They serve, beyond the personal enrichment of the members of the ruling class, to foster populism through a system of rents and prebends. The goal is to remain in power at the expense of sustainable development; iii) the squandering of human capital through de-scholarisation and the perpetuation of the collapse of the school and university systems, demonstrating that the training of youth is considered more of an obstacle than an asset to sustainable development. This transitional government pursues unambiguous objectives, which benefit only a minority. These objectives appear clearly in the behaviour of numerous leaders. One can therefore ask oneself on what values can society build civic virtues. This governance therefore calls into question the nature of ‘transition’ and its capacity to lead the country on the road to a sustainable development based on a stable democracy
