MADAGASCAR: Small steps towards land reform
IRIN News | 13 Apr 2012
TALATA 13 April 2012 (IRIN) - When officials asked everybody in the commune (sub-district) of Talata in Madagascar's central Amoron'i Mania region to register their land in 2007, it was to be the beginning of a national programme of far-reaching and much needed land reforms aimed at recognizing local mland rights and decentralizing land management. But local authorities had made little progress before the 2009 political crisis, branded a coup by the international community, stalled the process.
 Madagascar | Agriculture | Land Tenure Issues

Blue Ventures Conservation receives world renowned grant
IUCN | 07 Mar 2012
Blue Ventures Conservation, an IUCN Member from the UK, will explore leveraging markets to conserve mangrove biodiversity and alleviate poverty in Madagascar.
 Madagascar | Biodiversity | Conservation

MADAGASCAR: Illegal rosewood trade continues
IRIN News | 19 Jan 2012
ANTALAHA 19 January 2012 (IRIN) - Environmentalists and the international community are trying to find ways of limiting the damage caused by an explosion in the illegal logging of precious hardwoods in Madagascar since a major political crisis began there nearly three years ago.
 Madagascar | Economics and the Environment | Sustainable Forest Management

Hundreds of fishers gather for opening of mangrove fishery reserves in western Madagascar | News Roo...
blueventures.org | 23 Nov 2011
16 November 2011, Belo-sur-Mer Madagascar. The morning of November 11th saw the opening of two pioneering community-managed mangrove reserves in western Madagascar. Over 200 fishers attended the opening of the two fishing sites, covering an area of approximately 200 hectares, in order to reap the benefits of a temporary closure that has prohibited all forms of fishing and mangrove cutting for the past 19 weeks.
 Madagascar | Biodiversity | Fisheries

Swooping out of sight: Bats in need of greater protection
IUCN | 31 Oct 2011
Nocturnal, furry and known for their spooky reputation around Halloween, bats are not only the mysterious mammals that haunt the dark; they are also an important part of nature and in need of greater protection. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 20% of bats are threatened.
 Madagascar | Conservation

MADAGASCAR: A poor country gets poorer
IRIN News | 28 Mar 2011
Madagascar, one of the worlds poorest countries, has lost about US$400 million in donor support since the 17 March 2009 coup in which Andry Rajoelina, with the support of the military, deposed President Marc Ravalomanana. A World Bank report, Aid Effectiveness During Political Instability: A Look...
 Madagascar | Food Security | Planning and Management of Development | Poverty Reduction

Madagascar: Tropical Cyclone Bingiza DREF operation
feedproxy.google.com | 22 Feb 2011
The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.
 Madagascar | Access to Information | Health and Environment | Impacts on Ecosystems

Madagascar: Protecting the Alaotran gentle lemur
Guardian Unlimited | 07 Jan 2011
The Alaotran gentle lemur, or bandro, lives only on the shores of Madagascar's largest lake, Alaotra. Now locals have banded together to preserve this slice of fragile biodiversity. The NGO Madagascar Wildlife Conservation uses ecotourism, education and conservation to bring development to the region and survival to its star furry resident.
 Madagascar | Biotechnology | Conservation

Scientists investigate new lemur species
Guardian Unlimited | 13 Dec 2010
Genetic analysis will determine whether a new species of fork-marked lemur has been discovered in Madagascar. The animal's unique, feathery structure under its tongue - that may be used to gather nectar – distinguishes it as a new species, researchers say. They are waiting for the results of a...
 Madagascar | Biodiversity | Conservation

Madagascan scientists say they warned of locust swarms - SciDev.Net
SCIDEV.NET | 09 Nov 2010
The locust swarms that devastated crops in Madagascar last summer were predicted by the country's scientists several months in advance, but lack of government intervention meant control measures were not taken in time, they have said. "We warned the government [as early as February] the locust...
 Madagascar | Biodiversity | Food Security