Stack up on your Malagasy Species

[coura]

dont forget about lemurs they are all endangered or close to it... god i hate people

and the worse its just that some like the indri and some sifakas dont trive on zoos. If the forest gone they will be gone alongide

 

[Noto]

Now, now, let's not rush to conclusions. It is quite possible that this will be beneficial.

Returning Madagascar to its former glory is not going to happen anytime soon, but is there reason to believe that the Korean investment will result in widespread destruction of habitat? The article says they are leasing an area half the size of Belgium- so, about 15,000 square miles, or 3% of Madagascar's total land area.

Also, agriculture is not entirely incompatible with biodiversity. Hopefully the South Koreans will encourage an ecologically enlightened approach to farming in Madagascar.

Additionally, if the deal is economically beneficial to Madagascar and the Malagasy people, it will lessen the need for Malagasy people to pursue logging and wildlife export jobs. Too, an economically healthy population is more likely to consider the benefits of long-term land-use sustainability, ecological health, and other long-term goals that are hard to see when you are desperately poor.

 

[varanio]

Now, now, let's not rush to conclusions. It is quite possible that this will be beneficial.

Returning Madagascar to its former glory is not going to happen anytime soon, but is there reason to believe that the Korean investment will result in widespread destruction of habitat? The article says they are leasing an area half the size of Belgium- so, about 15,000 square miles, or 3% of Madagascar's total land area.

Also, agriculture is not entirely incompatible with biodiversity. Hopefully the South Koreans will encourage an ecologically enlightened approach to farming in Madagascar.

Additionally, if the deal is economically beneficial to Madagascar and the Malagasy people, it will lessen the need for Malagasy people to pursue logging and wildlife export jobs. Too, an economically healthy population is more likely to consider the benefits of long-term land-use sustainability, ecological health, and other long-term goals that are hard to see when you are desperately poor.

I agree with you on the fact that this could be economically enriching to to a poverty stricken society as is Madagascar. However I disagree with your logic, as this is a reptile forum, this discussion deals with the ecological hinderance this will have on malagasy wildlife more specific (reptiles). Everyone knows about the cute lemurs and that jump around and do crazy things on tree branches. However, no field studies have been done to an extent where uroplatus species and chameleons would in fact benefit from this modernization on a habitat that in some areas has been untouched and unharmed by man. Uroplatus species specifically will not be able to turn bright yellow in able to look like a corn husk. It took them a long time to adapt to their colors and patterns that they have today. It is silly to think that a specialized creature such as a Mossy Leaf tail gecko will pick up that mimic overnight.
A large portion of Madagascar is already in rubbles thanks to man, and that isnt included in this article, its been noted in many readings and even in television documentaries, that not only is their habitat diminishing from deforestation and human encroachment, but now from the Korean influence in agriculture.
Granted maybe some species will cope with the changes, but something tells me that alot wont just due to their specialized adaptations to rainforest canopy life.

 

[Noto]

You're assuming that the land they are leasing is currently untouched forest. I would guess (I have no info on this, just a hunch) that that is not the case; they would more likely get land that is already in cultivation or fallow, recently logged land. Planting it in corn will not hurt it any more than it's already been hurt.

 

[varanio]

You're assuming that the land they are leasing is currently untouched forest. I would guess (I have no info on this, just a hunch) that that is not the case; they would more likely get land that is already in cultivation or fallow, recently logged land. Planting it in corn will not hurt it any more than it's already been hurt.

Those pictures didnt look like it was not untouched forest, even if it wasnt it will still play a dangerous role in the lives of the animals, roadways to get to and from port cities, that causes more trees to go down. People will want to build nicer homes once they start making money from cultivation, that will require more trees to come down. Then they will want paved roadways again more trees; so and so forth. So its not as pretty of a picture as its painted to be while alot of starving people do get to live a little more comfortably the fact of the matter is not enough research was done to see how this will affect the wildlife.

 

[Noto]

Eh, I just don't see it as a big negative change. As you said, Madagascar's natural heritage is already being rapidly destroyed. Certainly research into effects on wildlife would be great, but realistically that's not going to happen.

The picture is just a picture of development in Madagascar; the article implies that this particular deal has not yet led to any development. So the photo is irrelevant.