Science

One of Earth's most diverse ecosystems is under threat — here's how we can save it

Some of the world’s rarest animals are in danger.

by Robin Bea
© Board of Trustees, RBG Kew

Angelica Crottini

Madagascar is a marvel of biodiversity. The large island is home to a tremendous number of plants and animals that don’t exist anywhere else.

But being a haven for rare animals comes with risk.

Many species are in high demand by hunters and farmers, and their isolated populations only make the demand higher.

Tobias Andermann

Tobias Andermann

Two recent papers published in Science put Madagascar’s precarious position as a biodiversity hotspot into sharp focus, and it makes for a troubling picture of the ecosystem’s future.

82 percent of Madagascar’s plants and 90 percent of the island’s vertebrates aren’t found anywhere else on Earth. Of those plants, 1,916 are used by humans, and 1,596 are endemic to Madagascar.

Leanne Phelps

Angelica Crottini

The authors of the new study determined that around 75 percent of Madagascar’s fungi are endemic, but data on fungal diversity is lacking. Madagascar’s insects are even less understood.

Madagascar has safeguards in place, with 10 percent of its land designated as protected areas. Though that’s a small portion of the island overall, 79.6 percent of threatened plants and 97.7 percent of threatened vertebrates are present in these areas.

Jan Hackel

Using techniques including machine learning, the researchers predicted species’ extinction risks and their biggest threats. They found overexploitation and unsustainable farming were the biggest risks.

Jenny Williams

© Board of Trustees, RBG Kew

Though nearly 90 percent of plants and up to 62 percent of vertebrates are at risk due to these practices, the researchers saw several ways to improve their outlook.

The researchers argue for evidence-based conservation solutions, rather than focusing solely on how much area is covered. More effort should also be spent on restoring the land around protected areas.

Leanne Phelps

The researchers predict that improving existing protected areas will be more effective than creating new ones, and improved monitoring of species will be key to their protection.

RJ Smith

They also say the root causes of biodiversity loss must be addressed. Poverty and food insecurity in nearby communities are major causes of overexploitation, so any conservation strategy must take them into account.

Jan Hackel

Angelica Crottini

Researchers point to recent efforts to record more of Madagascar’s animal species as a positive development. Cataloging endemic species is a necessary first step toward conservation, but the road to actually protecting them is far longer.

Tobias Andermann

The new research provides the best look yet at Madagascar’s incredible biodiversity and points the way toward preserving it for the future.

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