TIME April 13, 2009 43 HERE ARE AT LEAST 8 MILLION unique species of life on the planet, if not far more, and you could be forgiven for believing T that all of them can be found in Andasibe. Walking through this rain forest in Madagascar is like stepping into the library of life. Sunlight seeps through the silky fringes of the Ravenea louvelii, an endangered palm found, like so much else on this African island, nowhere else. Leaf- tailed geckos cling to the trees, cloaked in green. A fat Parson's chameleon lies lazily on abranch, beady eyes scanning for dinner. But the animal Imost hoped to find, I don't see at first; I hear it, though-a sustained groan that electrifies the forest quiet. My Malagasy guide, Marie Razafindrasolo, finds the source of the sound perched on a branch. It is the black-and-white indri, largest of the lemurs-a type of small

An Island Apart Madagascar split from India 80 million to IDa million years ago. All that time in virtual isolation meant that wildlife on the island followed its own evolutionary path. This helped produce unique species like thefossa, a catlike carnivore with the agility of a squirrel and the attitude of a wolverine.

44 SPECIAL REPORT I EXTINCTION

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: INGO ARNDT-MINDEN; PETE OXFORD-MINDEN; DANTE FEN OLIO-PHOTO RESEARCHERS; ZSSD-MINDEN: DANIEL HEUCLIN-PHOTO RESEARCHERS; S. JANSSEN-MINDEN; FRANS LANTING; PIOTR NASKRECKI; PETE OXFORD-MINDEN; CENTER: ALBERT LLEAL-MINDEN SPECIAL REPORT I EXTINCTION A 2004 study estimated that global warming could drive a million species to extinction by midcentury

when an estimated 70% of all terrestrial animals and 96% of all marine creatures vanished, and, most recently, the Creta- ceous event 65 million years ago, which ended the reign of the dinosaurs. Though scientists have directly assessed the vi- ability of fewer than 3% of the world's described species, the sample polling of animal populations so far suggests that we may have entered what will be the planet's Dead forests Madagascar has.zost more than 80% of itsforests, chiefly to the slash-and-burn sixth great extinction wave. And this time style of ricefarming know as tavy, which exhausts the soil as it destroys habitats the cause isn't an errant asteroid or mega- volcanoes. It's us. Through our growing numbers, our primate found only in Madagascar. The mining, logging and energy exploration thirst for natural resources and, most of cry is known as a spacing call, a warning to threaten those that remain. "You have an all, climate change-which, by one reck- other indris to keep their distance, to pre- area the size of New Jersey in Madagascar oning, could help carry off 20% to 30% vent competition for food. But there's not that is still under forest, and all this in- of all species before the end of the cen- much risk ofinterlopers. The species-like credible diversity is crammed into it," says tury-we're shaping an Earth that will many other lemurs, like many other ani- Mittermeier, an American who has been be biologically impoverished. A 2008 as- mals in Madagascar, like so much oflife on traveling to the country for more than 25 sessment by the International Union for Earth-is endangered and dwindling fast. years. "We're very concerned." Conservation of Nature found that nearly Madagascar-which separated from Madagascar is a conservation hot I in 4 mammals worldwide was at risk for India 80 million to 100 million years ago spot-a term for a region that is very bio- extinction, including endangered species before eventually settling off the south- diverse and particularly threatened-and like the famous Tasmanian devil. Over- eastern coast of Africa:-is in many ways while that makes the island special, it is fishing and acidification of the oceans are an Earth apart. All that time in geographic hardly alone. Conservationists estimate threatening marine species as diverse as isolation made Madagascar a Darwinian that extinctions worldwide are occurring the bluefin tuna and reef-forming corals. playground, its animals and plants evolv- at a pace that is up to 1,000 times as great as "Just about everything is going down," ing into forms utterly original. They in- history'S background rate before human says Simon Stuart, head of the IUCN's clude species as strange-looking as the beings began proliferating. Worse, that species-survival commission. "And when I pygmy mouse lemur-a chirping, palm- die-off could be accelerating. think about the impact of climate change, size mammal that may be the smallest it really scares me." primate on the planet-and as haunting Price of Extinction Scary for conservationists, yes, but the as the carnivorous fossa, a catlike animal THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE EXTINCTION WAVES question arises, Why should it matter to about 30 in. long. Some 90% of the island's in the planet's history-including the the rest of us? After all, nearly all the spe- plants and about 70% ofits animals are en- Permian extinction 250 million years ago, cies that were ever alive in the past are demic, meaning that they are found only gone today. Evolution demands extinc- in Madagascar. But what makes life on the tion. When we're using the term extinc- island unique also makes it uniquely vul- tion to talk about the fate of the U.S. auto nerable. "If we lose these animals on Mad- industry, does it really mat.ter if we lose agascar, they're gone forever," says Russell species like the Holdridge's toad, the Yang- Mittermeier, president of the wildlife tze River dolphin and the golden toad, all group Conservation International (CI). of which have effectively disappeared in That loss seems likelier than ever be- recent years? What does the loss of a few cause the animals are under threat as never species among millions matter? before. Once lushly forested, Madagascar Desert of '-ife For one thing, we're animals too, de- has seen more than 80% of its original veg- The spiny desert of Madagascar's pendent on this planet like every other etation cut down or burned since humans south is brutally hot, but it's home to form of life. The more species living in arrived at least 1,500 years ago, fragment- a unique population of animals. About an ecosystem, the healthier and more ing habitats and leaving animals effective- productive it is, which matters for us-a ly homeless. Unchecked hunting wiped recent study by the World Wildlife Fund out a number of large species, and today (WWF) estimates the economic value of

46 TIME April 13, 2009 SPECIAL REPORT I EXTINCTION the Amazon rain forest's eco- director of the climate, energy system services to be up to $roo and air program of the Center per hectare (about 2'/2 acres). for Biological Diversity (CBD). When we pollute and deforest "But it's slamming shut." and make a mess of the ecologi- cal web, we're taking out mort- To Save the Species, gages on the Earth that we can't Save the People pay back-and those loans will MADAGASCAR, WHICH MITTER- come due. Then there are the meier calls the "hottest of the undiscovered organisms and hot spots," is where all the new animals that could serve as the strategies can be road-tested. basis of needed medicines-as In 2003, after decades when the original ingredients of as- conservation was barely on the pirin were derived from the government's agenda, then- herb meadowsweet-unless President Marc Ravalomanana . we unwittingly destroy them announced that the govern- first. "We have plenty of sto- ment would triple Madagas- ries about how the loss of bio- car's protected areas over the diversity creates problems for following five years. That deci- people," says Carter Roberts, sion helped underfunded parks WWF's president. like Andasibe's, which protects Forests razed can grow back, some of the last untouched polluted air and water can be forest on the island. "You can't cleaned-but extinction is save a species without saving forever. And we're not talking the habitat where it lives," says about losing just a few species. WWF's Roberts. In fact, conservationists qui- Do that right, and you can etly acknowledge that we've even turn a profit in the process. , entered an age of triage, when In Madagascar, half the revenues we might have to decide which from national parks are meant species can truly be saved. The to go to the surrounding com- worst-case scenarios of habitat munities. The reserves in turn loss and climate change-and help sustain an industry for local that's the pathway we seem to The upside-down tree The Dr. Seussian baobab is a symbol of guides like Razafindrasolo. In a be on-show the planet losing Madagascar, one the government hopes to use to attract ecotounsts country aspoor as Madagascar- hundreds of thousands to mil- where 61% of the people live on lions of species, many ofwhich we haven't animals to migrate in order to escape less than $1 a day-it makes sense to give even discovered yet. The result could be changing climates, conservationists are locals an economic stake in preserving a virtual genocide of much of the animal looking to create protected corridors that wildlife rather than destroying it. "If you world and an irreversible impoverishment would give the species room to roam. It's don't get the support of the people living of our planet. Humans would survive, but uncertain that any of this will stop the near a conservation area, it's just a matter we would have doomed ourselves to what sixth extinction wave, let alone preserve of time before you'll lose [the area]," says naturalist E.O.Wilson calls the Eremozoic the biodiversity we still enjoy, but we Steven Sanderson, president ofthe Wildlife Era-the Age of Loneliness. have no choice but to try. "We have a win- Conservation Society (WCS). So if you care about tigers and tama- dow of opportunity," says Kassie Siegel, Well-run ecotourism can provide sup- rins, rhinos and orangutans, if you be- port for conservation, but even the best lieve Earth is more than just a home for 6.7 parks might be hard pressed to compete billion human beings and counting, then with the potential revenues from log- you should be scared. But fear shouldn't ging, poaching or mining. The strategy leave us paralyzed. Environmental of avoided deforestation, however, offers groups worldwide are responding with much more. Rain forests like those in new methods to new threats to wildlife. Madagascar contain billions and billions In hot spots like Madagascar and Brazil, of tons of carbon; destroying the trees and conservationists are working with locals releasing the carbon not only kills local on the ground, ensuring that the protec- species but also speeds global warming. tion of endangered species is tied to the Proposals in the global climate nego- Birds of Paradise welfare of the people who live closest to tiations would allow countries to offset them. A strategy known as avoided defor- At least 32 species of birds have already some of their greenhouse-gas emissions estation goes further, incentivizing envi- become extinct in Madagascar, where by paying rain-forest nations to preserve ronmental protection by putting a price nearly 60% of avian species are endemic. their trees. It's win-win, with both the on the carbon locked in rain forests and The departed species include the exotic climate and the critters getting a boost. allowing countries to trade credits in an elephant bird, a ID-ft.-tall specimen that In eastern Madagascar, CI and WCS are international market, provided that the was the largest bird in history. The last working together to protect about 865,000 carbon stays in the trees and is not cut one likely died around the r6th century. acres in the Makira Forest with a range of or burned. And as global warming forces carbon investors that include Mitsubishi

48 TIME April I3, 2009 SPECIAL REPORT I EXTINCTION

,-- and Pearl Jam. Closer to Andasibe, CI and I the heels of deadly protests. As a result, its partners are hiring villagers to plant development aid to the desperately poor trees on eroded land, which creates corri- country has been halted, and conserva- dors to connect fragmented habitats, may tion work has been disrupted. Reports earn carbon revenues and provides need- have filtered back of armed gangs step- ed employment. "We're bringing back the ping into the vacuum to illegally log the shelter of the forests, and we don't have nation's few remaining forests. "They're to cut trees," says Herve Tahirimalala, a ripping out valuable timber as quickly as Undersize Hippos Malagasy who is paid $100 a month to they can," says Mittermeier. work on the project. Unlike its African neighbors, News like that can tempt even the The corridors created by Cl's Anda- Madagascar was never home to large staunchest defenders of wildlife to sibe tree-planting program show how mammals such as elephants, lions and simply surrender. And why shouldn't a small tweak can reduce the species- cheetahs. The one exception is the dwarf they? In a world where hundreds of mil- killing effects of climate change-but hippopotamus, which swam to the lions of human beings still go hungry also how longer-term fixes are needed. island millions ofyears ago, before it was and the global recession has left all but Fragmented habitats are problematic probably hunted to extinction by humans. the wealthiest fearing for their future, because many endangered species wind it's easy to wonder why we should be up trapped in green oases surrounded concerned about the dwindling of the by degraded land. As global warming ton to act on global warming. The CBD's planet's biodiversity. changes the climate, species will try to Siegel led a successful campaign to get The answer is that we can't afford not migrate, often right into the path of de- the Bush Administration to list the polar to. The same natural qualities that sus- velopment and extinction. What good is bear as threatened by climate change, and tain wildlife-clean water, untainted a nature reserve-fought for, paid for and she expects more species to follow. "Polar land, unbroken forests-ultimately protected-if global warming renders it bears are the canaries in the coal mine," sustain us as well, whether we live in a unlivable? "Climate change could under- says Siegel. green jungle or a concrete one. But there mine the conservation work ofwhole gen- is an innate value to untrammeled bio- erations," says Larry Schweiger, president Why We Can't Wait diversity too-one that goes beyond our of the National Wildlife Federation. "It WHAT'S ESPECIALLY FRIGHTENING IS own survival. When that is lost, we are turns out you can't save species without how vulnerable even the best conserva- irretrievably diminished. "We live on a saving the sky." tion work can be to rapid changes-both very special planet-the only planet that That will mean reducing carbon emis- climatic and governmental. Over the we know has life," says Mittermeier. "For sions as fast as possible. In the U.S., the past couple of months, Madagascar has me, conservation is ultimately a moral CBDhas made an art out of using the En- fallen into a political abyss, with Andry obligation and simply the right thing to dangered Species Act, which mandates Rajoelina-the former mayor of Anta- do." That leaves us a choice. We can save that the government prevent the extinc- nanarivo, the capital-forcing former life on this special planet, or be its unwit- tion of listed species, to force Washing- President Ravalomanana from office on ting executioner. _

Dance,dance,dance A Verreaux's sifaka lemur shows offin Madagascar

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