Icesto Reale Italiano

illegal logging continues in Madagascar

Since the coup of 2009 in Madagascar Illegal logging of precious "Rosewood" in protected forests of the island has soared. The promise of the coup president Andry Rajoelina to act to stop this logging have not been met.

Until 2009, Madagascar saw great improvements in the management of unique forests, with large protected areas and strict enforcement of protectionist restrictions. But after Rajoelina Madagascar came to power and began to become isolated internationally, illegal logging and destruction of protected areas is undergoing a revival.

Since then, international and Malagasy environmental organizations have tried to pressure President Rajoelina. At a meeting in October Last year, Rajoelina undertook to make an official statement to stop the illegal cutting of all woods. He also pledged resources to support local authorities implement plans to ensure appropriate management of forests in the future.

"However, no public statement has been made to date, and illegal logging continues to ravage the environment, precious and fragile island," complains in a letter sent to afrol News the environmental group WWF.

"Rajoelina Andry said he wanted to stop illegal logging. Also said he wanted to appeal to countries that import wood, and especially China, for not buying more products from Rosewood and was willing to co-finance actions to stop illegal logging in state funding, "says Niall O'Connor, representative Regional WWF in Madagascar.

"Now is the time to act. WWF urges Rajoelina and his government to fulfill promises, "added O'Connor. Ecologist Malagasy government has presented a petition with 5,000 signatures to stop the illegal logging of hardwoods in Madagascar.

Over 20,000 hectares of forests, protected areas have been devastated after agit ation of the policy in 2009, with more than 100,000 trees illegally cut hardwood in some of the richest and most diverse forests on earth.
is calculated to have cut another half a million more trees, their trunks to be transported downstream, causing widespread damage and massive loss of species.
illegal activity destroys forests, but also the services they provide to local communities. It also affects the tourism industry that traditionally benefit from these parts of the humid forests of the island's northeast, which traditionally has provided the local people jobs and income.
http://www.afrol.com/es/articulos/37106