Madagascar´s open landscapes under the spotlight

Editoria

Approaching invasive species in Madagascar

While a number of plants, animals, and insects in Madagascar have been called ’invasive’, the topic of invasive species has until recently received less attention here than in other island contexts. Some species, often alien to Madagascar and introduced by humans, have expanded their range rapidly and have had both negative and positive effects on landscapes, on native biodiversity, and on livelihoods. Examples include the prickly pear (raketa), the silver wattle (mimosa), and, recently, the Asian common toad (radaka boka). Building on a conceptual approach to ’invasive species’, this paper emphasizes the importance of inclusive and deliberative site- and population - specific management of invasive species. It analyses three separate concepts commonly used in definitions of invasion: the origin, behaviour, and effects of particular species. It places these concepts in their broader social and ecological context, with particular attention to local perspectives on invasive species. We illustrate these concepts with Malagasy examples and data. The examples demonstrate that while invasions can have dramatic consequences, there can be multiple, often competing, interests as well as site - specific biophysical, environmental, and cultural considerations that need to be taken into account when designing policy and management interventions. We conclude with a number of lessons learned

L'urgence d'une confirmation par la science du rôle écologique du corridor forestier de Fianarantsoa

RésuméL'urgence des actions de conservation à Madagascar s'inscrit dans le sillage post-Durban : le président de la République a déclaré qu'il allait, en cinq ans, faire plus que tripler la surface des aires protégées. L'approche en termes de « corridor », lequel n'est pas toujours scientifiquement justifié, constitue l'un des maîtres mots de la politique environnementale. Une analyse de la littérature portant sur le corridor forestier de Fianarantsoa (sud-est de l'île) révèle un décalage important entre le discours des ONG conservationnistes et la réalité du terrain. Il serait pourtant primordial de prendre en compte ce décalage dans la délimitation des aires protégées. Cet article tente de mettre en lumière les flous qu'entretiennent, au nom du principe de précaution, les acteurs de la conservation.AbstractThe urgent need for conservation in Madagascar ensues from the Durban congress; the Malagasy president declared that he would, within five years, more than triple the surface area devoted to conservation. “Corridors”, an approach not always scientifically valid, is a catchword in environmental policy. By examining what has been written about the Fianarantsoa forest corridor in the southeast of the island, we notice a major discrepancy between the words of the NGOs advocating conservation and the actual situation in the field. This discrepancy should be taken into account when setting the bounds of areas to protect. The parties involved in conservation work invoke the principle of precaution to maintain a lack of focus