Political unrest portends ecological ruin in Madagascar.

• Author: Block, Ben
• Position: EYE ON EARTH

Recent political developments in Madagascar have led to a rise in both illegal and sanctioned logging, undermining decades of conservation work, environmental groups say.

After pro-opposition troops ousted President Marc Ravalomanana in March 2009, illegal logging and the trade in wildlife-derived bushmeat escalated in many of the island's protected areas. Although a November deal between political parties provided some stability, conservation groups worry that persistent lawlessness coupled with a decline in foreign aid will lead to increased deforestation in some of the world's richest ecosystems.

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Conservation groups have prioritized their efforts in Madagascar, considered a "hotspot" for biological diversity. Most of the island's reptiles, plant life, and land mammals, including lemurs, are found naturally nowhere else on Earth. But conservation programs are in peril following decisions by two major donors, the United States and World Bank, to withdraw non-humanitarian aid following the change of government.

"Park staff and management authorities have been deprived of the resources and mechanisms they need to prevent illegal logging," said Frank Hawkins, vice president of Conservation International's Africa program. "Communities who have been developing mechanisms for generating revenue from intact forests, tourism, or carbon [sequestration] ... will have to go back to slash-and-burn agriculture."

Communities and park officials report that armed gangs have entered protected areas, such as the Marojejy and Masoala World Heritage Sites and the Mananara-Nord Biosphere Reserve, and removed endangered rosewood trees, ebony, and other threatened hardwood species. An estimated 7,000 cubic meters of felled rosewood and ebony were shipped each month to Madagascar's ports between January and October 2009...