The Madagascar rosewood massacre

Valuable timber has been exploited from Madagascar’s rainforests for many decades, and Malagasy rosewood and palissandre (Dalbergia spp.) are among the most sought after hardwoods in the world. Large quantities have been harvested and exported at an increasing rate over the last decade, almost entirely from illegal logging in protected areas, in particular Masoala and Marojejy National Parks, which comprise part of the newly-established Atsinanana UNESCO World Heritage Site in the SAVA (Sambava - Antalaha-Vohémar-Andapa) region of northeast Madagascar. We present information obtained from sources in the region that documents an unprecedented, highly organized expansion in the illegal timber trade operating openly in the wake of the country’s current political turmoil, with more than 625 containers of rosewood worth an estimated US $130 million leaving just from the port of Vohémar (Iharana) since early 2009 to cater for the demand of the international market. Members of local communities around Masoala and Marojejy derive very little benefit from timber harvesting, which severely compromises the integrity of the protected areas and their ecosystems, while nearly all the profits go to those who run the illegal operations. Income from ecotourism and other potential benefits is limited at Masoala and Marojejy by the region’s climate, relative inaccessibility and poor infrastructure, making it nearly impossible for locals to resist short-term gains from forest exploitation. Insufficient in numbers and lacking authority, park staff are unable to effect any control over logging activity within protected areas. The current scramble for resources in Madagascar’s parks and reserves challenges the viability of the previous government’s plans to protect 10$ 130 millions du seul port de Vohémar (Iharana), pour couvrir la demande du marché international. Les membres des communautés villageoises limitrophes des parcs de Masoala et de Marojejy ont peu profité de la manne que représente l’exportation de ce bois précieux qui compromet par ailleurs l’intégrité des zones protégées et leurs écosystèmes alors que la quasi-totalité des gains va à ceux qui organisent le trafic. Les revenus de l’écotourisme et d’autres activités sont limités aussi bien dans les parcs de Masoala que du Marojejy par le climat de la région, l’inaccessibilité relative et des infrastructures modestes qui font qu’il est difficile aux gens de la région de résister aux gains à court terme de l’exploitation forestière car elle représente leur seule bouée de sauvetage en cas de crise, qu’il s’agisse d’un cyclone saisonnier ou d’une crise politique comme celle de 2009, d’autant que les agents des parcs n’ont pas les moyens de s’y opposer et ne sont pas assez nombreux. La course actuelle aux ressources des parcs et réserves de Madagascar compromet la légitimité et la viabilité du plan de l’ancien gouvernement de protéger 10% du pays et remet en cause l’engagement pour la protection de la nature du régime actuel

Conservation status of vascular plant species from the QMM/Rio Tinto mining area at Mandena, Tolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) region, southeast Madagascar

A botanical inventory of the Mandena littoral forest, completed in 1991 as part of an environmental impact assessment study for a titanium oxide mining project being developed by QMM/Rio Tinto in the Tolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) region of southeastern Madagascar, identified 29 plant taxa as priorities for conservation, including 16 known only from the proposed mining path (Priority 1) and 13 restricted to the exploration zone (Priority 2). A re-evaluation in 2001 added 11 taxa from Mandena (the first of three sites targeted for mining, to be followed later by Petriky and then Sainte Luce) and removed 13 others, leaving a total of 27 taxa, five classified as Priority 1 and 22 as Priority 2. Using currently available data, we have removed four additional taxa from the list (three because populations were found outside the Tolagnaro area and one because it’s earlier inclusion on the list had been in error) and transferred four others from Priority 1 to Priority 2 as populations had been located within one or more of the newly - established conservation zones at Sainte Luce (747 ha), Mandena (230 ha) and Petriky (125 ha). Of the 15 currently recognized priority taxa present at Mandena, only two (an undescribed species in each of the genera Canthium and Pseudocatha) appear to be endemic there, but all remain a focus of QMM’s environment, conservation and restoration activities. A total of 15 Mandena taxa are listed as threatened on the 2008 IUCN Red List (3 Critically Endangered, 7 Endangered, and 5 Vulnerable), most of which must be regarded as important for conservation; only three of these taxa also appear on the priority list, and none of the 12 remaining priority taxa from Mandena have been assessed for the Red List, underscoring the urgent need to expand evaluation to encompass the entire Malagasy flora and in particular range-restricted taxa. RÉSUMÉ Un inventaire botanique de la forêt littorale de Mandena, clôturé en 1991 dans le cadre d’une étude d’impact environnemental portant sur un projet d’extraction minière d’oxyde de titane élaboré par QMM/Rio Tinto dans la région de Tolagnaro (Fort-Dauphin) au sud-est de Madagascar, a identifié 29 taxons de plantes prioritaires en matière de conservation, dont 16 taxons qui n’étaient connus que des seules parcelles à exploiter (Priorité 1) et 13 taxons dont la distribution était limitée à la zone d’exploration (Priorité 2). Une nouvelle évaluation en 2001 ajouta 11 taxons de Mandena (premier site qui fera l’objet de l’exploitation minière et qui sera suivi par Petriky puis Sainte Luce) et retira 13 autres taxons, ramenant ainsi la liste à 27 taxons dont cinq taxons de Priorité 1 et 22 de Priorité 2. En considérant les données actuellement disponibles, nous avons retiré quatre autres taxons de la liste (trois taxons pour lesquels des populations ont été localisées au - delà de la région de Tolagnaro et un dernier taxon car son inclusion initiale sur la liste n’était pas justifiée) et en avons déclassé quatre autres taxons en les passant de Priorité 1 à Priorité 2 avec des populations identifiées dans une ou plusieurs zone(s) de conservation nouvellement mise(s) en place à Sainte Luce (747 ha), Mandena (230 ha) et Petriky (125 ha). Sur les 15 taxons prioritaires actuellement reconnus et qui sont rencontrés à Mandena, seulement deux (une espèce non décrite dans chacun des genres Canthium et Pseudocatha) semblent y être endémiques mais tous sont concernés par les activités environnementales, de conservation et de restauration de QMM. Quinze taxons de Mandena figurent sur la Liste Rouge des espèces menacées 2008 de l’UICN (3 ‘en danger critique d’extinction’, 7 ‘en danger’ et 5 ‘vulnérable’) dont la plupart doivent être considérés comme importants pour la conservation ; seuls trois de ces taxons apparaissent également sur la liste prioritaire alors qu’aucun des 12 autres taxons prioritaires de Mandena n’a été évalué pour la Liste Rouge, soulignant ainsi le besoin urgent d’étendre l’évaluation pour inclure l’ensemble de la flore malgache et plus particulièrement les taxons avec des distributions réduites

Madagascar’s proposed domestic rosewood trade undermines species protection and exposes fatal flaws in the CITES regime

Madagascar’s proposal to expand its domestic trade in rosewood by allowing the use of logs from its “official” stockpiles, which have been embargoed, undermines international conservation efforts and exposes critical weaknesses in the CITES regime. Despite the listing of all Malagasy rosewood species on CITES Appendix II and the implementation of a trade moratorium, illegal exports of rosewood persist, driven by criminal syndicates exploiting gaps in enforcement and forest governance. The proposal to remove 30,000 logs from CITES jurisdiction, purportedly for domestic use, lacks adequate safeguards to prevent their diversion into international markets. This move threatens to set a dangerous precedent for other countries, potentially facilitating illegal trade in other rare or endangered species. Immediate, stringent oversight and effective enforcement mechanisms are essential to mitigate these risks and uphold global conservation objectives.   Résumé La proposition de Madagascar d'élargir son commerce intérieur de bois de rose en autorisant l'utilisation des grumes provenant de ses stocks « officiels », qui avaient placés sous embargo, compromet les efforts internationaux de conservation et révèle des faiblesses critiques dans le régime de la CITES. Malgré l'inscription de toutes les espèces de bois de rose malgache à l'Annexe II de la CITES et la mise en place d'un moratoire sur leur commerce, les exportations illégales de bois de rose persistent, alimentées par des réseaux criminels exploitant les failles de l'application des lois et de la gouvernance forestière. La proposition de retirer 30 000 grumes de la juridiction de la CITES, soi-disant pour un usage domestique, ne présente pas les garanties suffisantes pour empêcher leur détournement vers les marchés internationaux illégaux. Cette mesure risque de créer un précédent pour d'autres pays, en facilitant potentiellement le commerce illégal d'autres espèces rares ou en danger. Une surveillance immédiate et rigoureuse, accompagnée de mécanismes d'application efficaces sont essentiels pour atténuer ces risques et maintenir les objectifs mondiaux de conservation

\u3cem\u3eAlectryon vitiensis\u3c/em\u3e: A New Species of Sapindaceae Endemic to Fiji

A new species of Alectryon Gaertn. (Sapindaceae) endemic to the Fijian archipelago is described as A. vitiensis Buerki, Lowry, Munzinger & Callm. based on morphological and molecular evidence. It can easily be distinguished from the two congeners currently known from Fiji by its smaller leaves, subsessile leaflets, apetalous flowers, and crested fruits. A phylogenetic analysis using ITS sequence data shows that the new species is closely related to two Australian endemics, A. diversifolius (F. Muell.) S. T. Reynolds and A. oleifolius (Desf.) S. T. Reynolds, but differs in having compound leaves covered with a golden indument. Moreover, the Australian taxa are associated with dry habitats, whereas the new species from Fiji is confined to evergreen humid forests. Among apetalous species (all of which belong to a well-supported clade), A. vitiensis morphologically most closely resembles the generic type, A. excelsus Gaertn., endemic to New Zealand, but they differ from one another in the type of indument covering their branches and leaves and the arrangement, shape, and nature of the indument on their leaflets; and they belong to different clades. The new species is provisionally assigned a conservation status of “Endangered” according to the IUCN Red List criteria

CITES must urgently take the steps to save Madagascar’s unique species of rosewood and ebony

This contribution is an open letter to all CITES Management and Scientific Authorities, which is signed by all of the co-authors. As CITES convenes its 19th Conference of the Parties in November 2022, some of the largest seizures in history of illegally harvested CITES-listed species are poised to be handed back to the criminals who smuggled them out of Madagascar. Nearly 40,000 rosewood logs were illegally exported from the country in 2014, in clear violation of CITES and national embargos, as explicitly declared in Notices issued by the CITES Secretariat. The logs were seized by Singapore, Kenya, and Sri Lanka, but as a result of both passive and active interference from various Malagasy officials and aggressive use of these countries’ national court and political systems, orders have now been issued for the logs to be returned to the smugglers. Release of this wood would have catastrophic consequences for the future sustainable management of Madagascar’s remaining rosewood and ebony resources. We propose five essential steps that should be taken at the upcoming CITES CoP 19 in Panama to prevent this from happening

Identification of priority areas for plant conservation in Madagascar using Red List criteria: rare and threatened Pandanaceae indicate sites in need of protection

A major problem in establishing effective protocols for conserving Madagascar's biodiversity is the lack of reliable information for the identification of priority sites in need of protection. Analyses of field data and information from herbarium collections for members of the plant family Pandanaceae (85 spp. of Pandanus; 6 spp. of Martellidendron) showed how risk of extinction assessments can inform conservation planning. Application of IUCN Red List categories and criteria showed that 91% of the species are threatened. Mapping occurrence revealed centres of richness and rarity as well as gaps in Madagascar's existing protected area network. Protection of 10 additional sites would be required to encompass the 19 species currently lacking representation in the reserve network, within which east coast littoral forests are particularly under represented and important. The effect of scale on assessments of risk of extinction was explored by applying different grid cell sizes to estimate area of occupancy. Using a grid cell size within the range suggested by IUCN overestimates threatened status if based solely upon specimen data. For poorly inventoried countries such as Madagascar measures of range size based on such data should be complemented with field observations to determine population size, sensitivity to disturbance, and specific threats to habitat and therefore potential population decline. The analysis of such data can make an important contribution to the conservation planning process by identifying threatened species and revealing the highest priority sites for their conservatio

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Observation of gravitational waves from the coalescence of a 2.5–4.5 M ⊙ compact object and a neutron star

We report the observation of a coalescing compact binary with component masses 2.5–4.5 M ⊙ and 1.2–2.0 M ⊙ (all measurements quoted at the 90% credible level). The gravitational-wave signal GW230529_181500 was observed during the fourth observing run of the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA detector network on 2023 May 29 by the LIGO Livingston observatory. The primary component of the source has a mass less than 5 M ⊙ at 99% credibility. We cannot definitively determine from gravitational-wave data alone whether either component of the source is a neutron star or a black hole. However, given existing estimates of the maximum neutron star mass, we find the most probable interpretation of the source to be the coalescence of a neutron star with a black hole that has a mass between the most massive neutron stars and the least massive black holes observed in the Galaxy. We provisionally estimate a merger rate density of 55−47+127Gpc−3yr−1 for compact binary coalescences with properties similar to the source of GW230529_181500; assuming that the source is a neutron star–black hole merger, GW230529_181500-like sources may make up the majority of neutron star–black hole coalescences. The discovery of this system implies an increase in the expected rate of neutron star–black hole mergers with electromagnetic counterparts and provides further evidence for compact objects existing within the purported lower mass gap