The West - Madagascar - page 660

numerous islets. Those to the north are mere sandbanks, but the islands to the south have
vegetative cover. Nomadic Vezo fishermen live on the northerly islands for six months of
the year. There are shark carcasses and turtle shells left to dry on the sand, and fish and
shark fins are salted in troughs. Each of the islands is fringed by coral reefs, although to
view the healthy coral you may have to go up to 2km offshore. You can hire a pirogue in
Belo to take you around the islands. Remember to bring enough water and food if you in-
tend to camp.
CORAL BLEACHING
Alasdair Harris, Blue Ventures
Climatechange,ElNiñoandtheassociatedincreasesinseasurfacetemperatureshave
resulted in severe coral bleaching events in Madagascar in recent years and represent
the greatest natural threat to these systems. Bleaching events are increasing in their
frequency and severity and current estimates suggest it could become an annual event
within 25-50 years. Dive operators in the tourist centres of Anakao and Ifaty have
claimed almost 100% mortality of hard corals in shallow sites.
In addition to large-scale natural threats, local populations have significant effects
on the health of Madagascar's coral reefs. Poor land-use practices are one of the
primary anthropogenic threats to coastal biodiversity, and large areas of forest have
beendestroyedbyrapidexpansionofslash-and-burnagriculturalsystems.Wide-scale
burning has exacerbated soil erosion, which now affects more than 80% of Madagas-
car's total land area. Raised levels of siltation on coral reefs, in particular in west-
ern Madagascar have already been widely reported, most notably on near-shore reefs
close to the mouths of rivers, such as the Onilahy and Fiherenana near Toliara.
There is now a critical need for better knowledge and understanding of Madagas-
car's marine and coastal ecosystem processes. It is essential to monitor the impacts of
bleaching and the recovery rates of coral reefs, in order to incorporate resilience and
resistance factors into the future selection and management of protected marine areas.
KIRINDY-MITEA NATIONAL PARK This national park is adjacent to Belo and pro-
tectsagreatvarietyofhabitats,butseesonlyafewdozenvisitorsayear.Itliesatthecross-
roads of two ecosystems: the west and the south, as well as coastal mangroves (comprising
an astonishing seven tree species), dunes, lakes and beaches.
The two lakes, Ambondro and Sirave, are particularly interesting since they are fady
to the local people so have been undisturbed for generations. Local legend tells of many
beasts said to live in Kirindy-Mitea, including a half-horse half-zebu, a mangrove swamp
monster called Bahisatsy, a wild man called Hako, and a Herculean man who once ripped
a gigantic nato tree from its roots.