http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/thayerm/images/madmap.gif |
Madagascar Subhumid Forests:
Madagascar Subhumid Forest http://www.flickr.com/photos/56601430@N05/5257358515/ |
Amber Mountain (Montagne D'Ambre) http://www.travel2madagascar.com/typo3temp/pics/fb6abdc165.jpg |
Amber Mountain Rock Thrush http://img.burrard-lucas.com/madagascar/full/amber_mountain_rock_thrush.jpg |
Human Impacts:
Rice fields in Madagascar's central highlands http://mongabay.s3.amazonaws.com/madagascar/600/madagascar_4711.jpg |
Map of human induced soil degradation and erosion in Madagascar http://www.wildmadagascar.org/maps/erosion.html |
Based on the current human impacts, the recovery for Madagascar subhumid forests has a low chance of recovery. Right now, the status is very critical, as many endemic species are becoming more extinct. Even if people were to stop all actions that could harm the ecosystem, it would still take a long time for the environment to fully restore back to the way it was. Although, there are several conserved and protected areas of subhumid forests in parts of Madagascar, there are still many areas that are being threatened. Fortunately, local communities and the government are working together with organizations and groups, like the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Fanamby, to expand the protection system of the ecosystem.
Map of conservation areas http://www.wildmadagascar.org/maps/conservation.html |
By acknowledging the current status and threats of Madagascar subhumid forests to people, it would help acknowledge that Madagascar is in great need of help of conserving the area. If the acknowledgment is spread throughout society, it could convince the government to ban threats, like slash-and-burn agriculture, from areas that have not yet been jeopardized. Creating more conserved areas and national parks would benefit the ecoregion from being threatened and destroyed. If people supported the creation of national parks in unprotected areas of the subhumid forests, then not only would it help preserve the ecoregion, but it would also give an opportunity to let people see and experience the beauty of Madagascar subumid forests.
Madagascar Ericoid Thickets:
Marojejy Massif http://www.eoearth.org/images/183105/500x0/scale/Massif_Marojejy.jpg |
Orchid from Andringitra National Park http://www.travel2madagascar.com/uploads/pics/Orchid.JPG |
The ericoid thicket has more than 10 species of endemic reptiles, like gecko, Millotisaurus mirabilis, and Lygodactylus arnoulti. Recently, Andringitra has been discovered with new endemic species, Gekkonidae and Lygodactylus montanus. Five other species, along with one amphibian, Boophis williamsi, are considered to be nearly endemic to the habitat. Although there are many endemic species, they belong to a widespread genera. Ericoid thickets also have a remarkable amount of endemic plants and plant families like Asteraceae (Psiadia, helichrysum, Stoebe, Stenocline), Ericaceae (Erica, Agauria, Vaccinum), Podocarpaceae (Podocarpus), Rhamnaceae (Phylica), and Rubiaceae. The name, ericoid thickets, was adopted for having thicket-forming plants from one of its plants species: the Ericaceae family. Many ericoid thickets support plants that are able to survive with less water, like Aloe, Kalanchoe, and Helichrysym. The habitat has remarkable flora with numerous endemic species. For example, the Andringitra massif has over 150 vascular endemics and 25 species of orchids.
Boophis williamsi http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/imgs/128x192/1111_1111/1111/8169.jpeg |
Human Impacts:
Fire set for cattle grazing http://photos.wildmadagascar.org/images/pictures/madagascar_6918.shtml |
Future Prospects:
Madagascar National Parks http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_608/1306690311a207zB.jpg |
Andringitra National Park http://www.flickr.com/photos/rowe_becky/4654369474/in/photostream/ |
If people still continue to conserve the three remaining massifs, the ericoid thickets could still have its natural vegetation. National parks can help preserve the ecoregion and have strict rules in order to protect the ericoid thickets from being threatened or destroyed. However, with the remaining massif, Ankaratra, if people spread the acknowledgement of the current status of the massif, it would convince people to stop the burning of the ericoid thicket's vegetation. It is important for people to recognize the problems in the ecoregions and help create National Parks in unaffected areas to prevent fires for pastures. If the problem was recognized, then the government could also help by taking action and preventing the people, who create cattle pasture, from using and harming the ericoid thickets.
References:
1) Crowley, Helen. "Madagascar." Wildlife Conservation, Endangered Species
Conservation. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 23 Nov.2012.
<http://worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at1011>.
2) Crowley, Helen. "Southern Africa: Central Madagascar." Wildlife Conservation,
Endangered Species Conservation. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 23 Nov 2012.
<http://worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/at0118>.
3) "Global Species : Ecoregion : Madagascar Ericoid Thickets." Global Species :
Ecoregion : Madagascar Ericoid Thickets. Myers Enterprise, n.d. Web. 23 Nov.
2012. <http://www.globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/AT1011>.
4) "Global Species : Ecoregion : Madagascar Subhumid Forests." Global Species :
Ecoregion : Madagascar Subhumid Forests. Myers Enterprise, n.d. Web. 23 Nov.
2012. <http://www.globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/AT0118>.
5) "Madagascar Ericoid Thickets." Madagascar Ericoid Thickets. Ed. Mark McGinley.
Environmental Information Coalition and National Council for Science and the
Environment, 21 Aug. 2008. Web. 23 Nov 2012.
<http://www.eoearth.org/article/Madagascar_ericoid_thickets>.
6) "Madagascar Forests and Shrublands - A Global Ecoregion. WWF. N.p., n.d. Web. 23
Nov. 2012.
<http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/madagascar_forests.cfm>.
7) "Madagascar Subhumid Forests." Madagascar Subhumid Forests. Ed. Cutler
Cleveland. Environmental Information Coalition and National Council for Science
and the Environment, 27 Oct. 2006. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.eoearth.org/article/Madagascar_subhumid_forests>.