Madagascar's astonishing range of biodiversity under threat

13 January 2010, R4D
URL: http://www.research4development.info/news.asp?articleID=50555

Madagascar, the fourth largest island on the planet, has a unique and rich level of biodiversity. Despite these rich resources in terms of plant and animal life decision makers have not had enough precise spatial information on what people and resources are vulnerable to climate change. Climate change is a real threat to many of Madagascar's biodiversity treasures, many of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. A recent project led by DFID's Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) programme, and carried out by Madagascar's University of Antananarivo, is looking to stem this trend by exploring vulnerability and adaptation options in the island’s agricultural sector.

The project has improved the level of information on climate change vulnerabilities greatly. It has also initiated dialogue between at decision-makers, researchers and at-risk groups. A network of seven 'reflection groups' has been set up at local and regional levels in 2008-2009. These allow for dialogue on vulnerability and for strategic discussion on alleviating risk.

In the first set of group meetings people shared their perceptions of climate change and its impacts on agricultural systems. It was largely felt that there had been marked shifts the island's climate, underscored by a series of extreme weather events, such as fierce cyclones. Environmental degradation is seen by many as the cause, linked to a high levels of deforestation in many rural areas. Many group meetings also identified a waning respect for traditional values and practices, a common theme across many agricultural communities of the world fighting to adapt to climate change. Researchers have been able to access these groups to communicate evidenced biophysical changes, and discuss alternative crop species.

Regional level groups play a more strategic role in building links between farming communities and policy makers. The aim of the project here is to build a shared understanding of vulnerability, which will allow researchers to develop strategies that build on specific risks and priorities of individual farming communities.