Economic activities and their impacts on the ecosystem and biodiversity in Madagascar (Case of the Eastern region)

Unregulated economic activities, particularly wood extraction for charcoal and construction, significantly threaten the ecosystems and biodiversity of Madagascar's Atsinanana rainforests. These pressures are exacerbated by high unemployment rates, leading to disproportionate forest degradation despite restoration efforts. The study highlights that fast-growing native species used in restoration may not fully mitigate these impacts. Socio-economic surveys and econometric modeling were employed to analyze data on logging practices, tree species exploited, and their ecological consequences. Findings underscore the urgent need for sustainable alternatives, such as promoting efficient cook stoves like 'fatana mitsitsy,' to reduce reliance on wood extraction and alleviate forest degradation.

Dorient RAVELOJAONA, Botovao Auguste RAMIANDRISOA, Tovo Hanitra RATOVOHAJA, ZARAMODY, A., RAKOTONANDRASANA, A. T., RAHARINIRINA, E. F., RARIVOMANANA Lolo, & Hery Lisy Tiana RANARIJAONA. (2023). Economic activities and their impacts on the ecosystem and biodiversity in Madagascar (Case of the Eastern region). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.7821866