Maintaining a Balance

Maintaining a Balance between people and the environment!

Maintaining a balance between people and the rain forest in Madagascar is no easy task. Considering that the forest plays a key role in the survival of the people of the island, conservation efforts must address people who rely on the rain forest.

One method of maintain a balance is sustainable forestry. For example, the harvesting of renewable forest products would be more beneficial for locals and the forest—because they can generate money by selling the product and it does not destroy the resource base. Eco-tourism is also a vital part of maintenance in the forest. Tourists who visit national parks and visit the island provide money to continue conservation efforts. Additionally, revenue made from Eco-tourism provides jobs for locals. Local people, the economy and the rain forest all benefit from Eco-tourism. Using land that has already been cleared is also important; it must not be neglected. Restoration efforts are significantly important because some forest have the capability of recovering quickly. Although the forest’s can never recover to their glory day, their restoration can mean a new home for certain species. New sustainable products can also be grown in order to maintain a balance between preservation and local use. Growing will benefit the damaged land, give home to animals, and it will allow for agriculture and low-intensity logging for islanders. Lastly, there needs to be more enforcement in the island of Madagascar. Although there have always been restrictions, the effect has been minimal. People manage to enter protected areas and cut down valuable trees (as was discussed in a past blog post).

The conservation status of the Madagascar rain forest is a long way from being good. Locals and the government need to take actions, such as the above mentioned, in order to promote the vitality of the Madagascar rain forest. 

"Making Conservation Work in Madagascar." Wildmadagascar.org. Wild Madagascar, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.wildmadagascar.org/conservation/saving.html>.