The proposed Parc Regional de Belomotse - Frontier-publications ...

egeneration is slow. Some species will become locally extinct unless the current trend in
environmental degradation is reversed.
The major underlying cause of environmental degradation is the low level of agricultural
productivity, obliging local people to exploit natural resources. Supplementary factors are
rapid population growth, low educational levels, harmful agricultural methods due to poor
soils and techniques, and specific aspects of the Malagasy culture. Ultimately, in order to
reduce exploitation of natural resources, living standards of local people must be raised.
However, this will take a long time to achieve, and in the short term it is necessary to reduce
the rate of environmental degradation by promoting sustainable agriculture and natural
resource use, raising awareness about environmental problems, and initiating appropriate
forest management schemes.
The proposed Regional Park contains some of the most important areas of riparian forest and
wetland in southwest Madagascar. However, the remaining areas are becoming fragmented.
Habitat destruction within the GELOSE-managed Sept Lacs core zone is occurring at a
comparatively low rate, and may be sustainable in the short term. However, this area contains
only a small number of wetland habitats, and many of the riparian forests are already degraded
and fragmented.
The riparian forest around Antafoky Lake is the largest unfragmented area of riparian forest in
the surveyed area. However, this area is suffering from deforestation at an alarming rate and,
unless checked, it will be mostly destroyed within three or four years. Also, this lake and the
associated forests contain the highest level of biological diversity found within the proposed
Regional Park. All vulnerable species found during the surveys were recorded at this site, as were
all but one of the undescribed mammal, reptile and butterfly species. Therefore, it is essential that
immediate support be given to this site in order for it to remain a viable and integral part of the
Regional Park.
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