Slash-and-burn agriculture in Madagascar

Slash-and-burn agriculture, as pictured here, continues to take a heavy toll on Madagascar’s natural heritage. The area of farm land pictured here, which is being burned yet in preparation for the next crop, was once part of Tsitongambaraika forest, one of Madagascar’s few remaining stands of humid lowland forest. The globally unique ecosystem, with 80-90 per cent of its life made up of endemic species and home to 5 endangered species, was declared as an Alliance for Zero Extinction site in 2016. Since the Global Environment Facility and UN Environment-supported Alliance for Zero Extinction project started its work, local communities have been educated on the value of their natural resources and alternative livelihood options, reducing pressure on the forest and opening the way to a sustainable future for both Tsitongambaraika and the region’s residents.