Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
An Uncertain Future
At the World's Park Conference in Durban in 2003, then president Marc Ravalomanana an-
nounced a bold plan to triple the extent of Madagascar's protected areas. Sadly, since the
political turmoil of 2009, conservation efforts have faced major setbacks with the illegal
logging of rosewood and ebony from the national parks of Masoala and Marojejy, and the
withdrawal of funding from international donors.
A small silver lining came in June 2011 in the form of an emergency US$52 million
funding from the World Bank to support the national parks network. Like most internation-
al donors, the World Bank stopped all funding to the country following the 2009 coup. But
in a communiqué, it noted that the new funding did not 'signal the World Bank's reengage-
ment with Madagascar, but [rather] its recognition that the environmental and social costs
of inaction are too high'.
MADAGASCAR'S NATIONAL PARKS & RESERVES
BEST
TIME
TO
VISIT
PARK
FEATURES ACTIVITIES WILDLIFE
PAGE
Pristine
forest, excel-
lent local
guides, well-
marked trails
Indri, birds,
Parson's
chameleon,
orchids
Parc National
Andasibe-
Mantadia
Hiking,lemur-
watching,
birdwatching
Sep-
Nov
Three types
of forest: hu-
mid, trans-
ition
Spiny
iguana, birds,
including
harrier hawk
Hiking, camp-
ing,
Parc National
d'Andohahela
Apr-
Dec
bird-
and
watching
spindly
Rugged gran-
ite peaks,
fantastic
trails
Ring-tailed
lemur, orch-
ids
Parc National
d'Andringitra
Trekking,
climbing
Oct-
Nov
and
scenery
