MADAGASCAR

For many years, forests throughout eastern Madagascar have been subjected to deforestation to make way for agricultural development. Since 2000, the nation has lost 24 per cent of its tree coverage. One of the major causes of deforestation in Madagascar is ‘slash-and-burn’ agriculture, also known as swidden. This method of deforestation involves cutting down extensive areas of forest and burning the fallen trees. Its purpose is to incorporate the biomass of the trees into the soil, thus increasing the soil’s fertility for the benefit of agricultural crops.

Nothing but charred remains are left behind