Madagascar's Threatened Trees
Madagascar is home to over 3,000 tree species, making it the twelfth most species rich country in the world with respect to tree diversity.
Dry spiny forest south of Toilary by Malin Rivers Botanic Gardens Conservation International
93% of Madagascar’s trees are endemic to the island, meaning they are unique to Madagascar and are only found there.
Didiearaceae by Malin Rivers Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Didiearaceae flowers
Didiereaceae
is a family of flowering plants found in continental Africa and Madagascar.
Madagascar is also home to some of the most iconic and recognisable trees in the world, Baobabs.
Avenue of Baobabs
A prominent group of Grandidier's baobabs ( Adansonia grandidieri
) line the dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina. In the past, the trees were part of a dense forest. As the country's population grew, this was cleared for agriculture leaving only the baobabs behind.
Explore the Avenue of Baobabs
This striking landscape in the Menabe region of western Madagascar draws travelers from all over the world, making it one of the most visited spots in the region. Click and drag to explore the Avenue using street view!
Until relatively recently there was limited data available about the conservation status of the country’s trees. BGCI’s Red List of Trees of Madagascar
provides the first comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of Malagasy trees.
Flower of Delonix floribunda
Found only in Madagascar
Over 94% of these assessments represented the first IUCN Red List assessment for the species. These were compiled by researchers from Missouri Botanical Garden Madagascar Program, Kew Madagascar Conservation Centre, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar Plant Specialist Group, and other institutions across the world.
Rangers, Eastern forest, Madagascar
The lowland forests of Madagascar include a narrow strip of humid forests along the east coast, home to a plant and animal mix that is 80 to 90% endemic.
Overall, two thirds of Madagascar’s endemic tree species are threatened with extinction (assessed as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable), on the IUCN Red List .
Threats to Baobabs
The majority of these trees are threatened due to small ranges, few locations, and declines. The primary threats to Malagasy tree species are logging and wood harvesting, agricultural expansion and increased fires.
Fire in west Madagascar dry forest
The dry forest of western Madagascar is famous for its wildlife, but is under threat from fires and deforestation.
In Madagascar there are timber species which are targeted and felled. The most expensive and desirable are often exported abroad to be made into furniture. Many of these species are now listed on CITES to prevent exploitation and reduce the risk of these species becoming extinct.
Tree trunk in eastern Madagascar
Each tree in Madagascar is home to a huge array of other life forms too.
Timber selectively felled in Eastern Madagascar
Since the arrival of humans 2000 years ago, Madagascar has lost more than 90% of its original forest.
This loss of forest cover is accentuated by the fragmentation of the remaining intact forest.
Primary and Secondary forest boundaries, Madagascar (2017) by Katharine Davies Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Primary and secondary forest boundaries, Madagascar
Primary forest refers to untouched forest that exists in its original condition. Secondary forest has been disturbed in some way, naturally or unnaturally.
Dry spiny forest south of Toliara
More than 500 of the dry forest tree species are threatened with extinction.
The Red List of Trees of Madagascar
establishes the first baseline for the conservation status of the trees of Madagascar and highlights the opportunities to increase and create protections for the island’s unique tree diversity.
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