Palms of Madagascar

In the news last month was a report from the IUCN on the status of Madagascar's palm trees. The news is not good with 83% of the 192 endemic species threatened with extinction.

Palms can provide a number of sustainable resources for local people, from building materials and utensils to craft goods and medicines but with increasing poverty on the island following the 2009 coup it is clear that many palms are being overharvested.

"Our perception is that palm utilization is now unsustainable for many species, and this is compounded by ongoing habitat loss due primarily to slash-and-burn agriculture. Whereas once palm exploitation must have been sustainable, the balance has now tipped as pressure increases on a decreasing area of habitat and remaining palms. So we are in a nasty feedback cycle of people threatening palms, and diminishing palms threatening livelihoods.'

From a report at AllAfrica.com.