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Miaro atiala, mamboly fiainana
"Protect the forest, and life will grow"
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4
V O L . 3 , N O . 1
P A G E 1 6
Closing Comments
The good news is that after nearly five years of a nonelected government,
Madagascar
now
has
a
democratically
elected
president,
Hery
Rajaonarimampianina. The disappointing news is that despite the new
government, the illegal cutting and export of rosewood continue unabated,
particularly in the northeastern part of the country, which includes the SAVA
region
). Even within the boundaries of Marojejy National
Park, the nucleus of SAVA Conservation’s activities, there has been cutting of
rosewood. We are pleased to report that Madagascar National Parks Service
(MNP) is now firmly addressing the cutting in Marojejy, but the problem is
widespread up and down the east coast and will require an aggressive stance by
the government to truly slow the outgoing rosewood tide. To be fair, the new
president has not been in office for even two months yet, and is still in the process
of filling positions within the government, including a Minister of the Environment.
So we are guardedly hopeful that once the new government is settled in, this year
will bring a reduction in the illegal cutting and trade of rosewood in Madagascar,
as well as the accompanying lawlessness. The Malagasy people are more than
ready for an overdue return to normalcy.
Hery Rajaonarimampianina.