Endemic Species That Are Endangered Due to Deforestation in Madagascar

Illustration of a Diademed Sifaka

Deforestation is a global problem. In other words, there is hardly a single area on Earth that has not been affected by deforestation in some way. However, there are some places on Earth where deforestation in just that one area becomes a global problem. One of these places is the island of Madagascar off the coast of Africa. Roughly 90% of the reptiles on Madagascar are found nowhere else on Earth. Twenty-nine species of the world’s lemurs are endemic to the island. Additionally, 80% of the plant species on the island are endemic, including the rosy periwinkle, which is used in the treatment of leukemia. Rampant deforestation puts all of these species in danger.

Problem deforestation in Madagascar began more than 100 years ago. Economic woes forced the Malagasy to clear forests for agriculture. They used the slash and burn method to clear large areas of forests for the growing of crops like rice and coffee. Some estimates say that roughly 70% of Madagascar’s primary forests were clearcut between 1895 and 1925. Most of the deforestation that took place at this time was done illegally. Since that time, commercial logging and the use of wood for fuel have also contributed to the deforestation in Madagascar. Also since that time, we have seen what kind of impact that this is having on the local animal species. The following are just a few of the island’s endemic animals that are threatened due to habitat loss.

The Golden bamboo lemur is endangered primarily because of deforestation. They live in mid-altitude rainforests on the island. Their diet consists primarily of giant bamboo, which is also subject to being chopped down.

The Golden-crowned sifaka is an endangered lemur species. Their endangerment can be linked to both mining and deforestation. They dwell in the gallery, semi-evergreen and dry deciduous forests of Madagascar. Their diet consists primarily of fruit, seeds, leaves and flowers.

The Greater bamboo lemur is critically endangered due to food source and habitat destruction. They subsist almost entirely on giant bamboo. They dwell in the primary rainforests of the island.

The Greater big-footed mouse dwells in the dry deciduous forests of Madagascar. They are endangered due to habitat loss. They eat fruit, seeds, berries, roots and stems.

The Diademed sifaka is endangered primarily through deforestation. They live in both the primary and montane rainforests of the island. Their diet consists primarily of leaves, seeds, fruit, shoots and flowers.

The Indri is yet another lemur that is endangered because of deforestation. They dwell in the rainforests of central eastern and northeastern Madagascar. They dine on leaves, flowers and fruit.

The Malagasy giant rat lives in the coastal dry deciduous forests of the island. They are endangered due to deforestation and the introduction of invasive black rats. They subsist primarily on fruit, seeds, sapling bark, roots and tubers that they forage off of the forest floor.

You’ll notice that all of these animals rely on the forests, not only for shelter, but also for food. And these are only just a scant few of the endemic species on Madagascar that do so. If deforestation continues the way it has been, not just some, but all, of the endemic species will become endangered. It would become inevitable. Even marine life is threatened because of soil erosion, which is directly linked to deforestation. There is good news, however. Conservationists are working very hard to protect the habitat that is left. They have even seen some success, despite the fact that it is very hard to save anything when people can make money off of its destruction.

Sources

Greater Big-Footed Mouse, retrieved 2/12/10, arkive.org/greater-big-footed-mouse/macrotarsomys/range-and-habitat.html

O’Connor, Alane, what are the historical causes of deforestation in Madagascar?, retrieved 2/12/10, colby.edu/personal/t/thtieten/def-mad.html