Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity – Madagascar i Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity – Madagascar i PREFACE The 5 th national report to the Convention on the biological diversity of Madagascar has a remarkably specific character following a context social, economic and political rather difficult to manage and persist that both during the implementation of its activities as the development of its content. But thanks to the good will to persevere all everyone involved closely or from afar, the report could still be developed and without having experienced various vicissitudes during the implementation of the activities set out. We know that the development of the content of this report is the result of a collaboration of about 200 people resources working in the field of biodiversity at the national level and willing to give a good image of the country commitments to the Convention on biological diversity signed by our country in 1997. We know that the various departmental sectors, institutions, associations, various NGOs, platforms and civil society itself are given hand to walk together towards the same direction, which is to give value to this unique heritage and yet in danger. Therefore, that collaboration should continue and be strengthened in the sense that the current national strategy update must also be the subject of concerted action of all stakeholders foregoing. We know that this report is far from perfect, but at least it reflects the reality lived by the biodiversity conservation malagasy between 2010-2013 unfortunately coinciding to the crisis which persist during the after 2009. The malagasy nature known disturbances unparalleled and also innovations and successes. And it is this ambiguous situation that makes the particularity of the present report. For illustration, we do quote here what an example on our commitment that is triple the size of our protected areas from 1 800 000ha to approximately 6 000 0000d'ha. "Success Story" known mid-term has hindered by the breakdown otherwise the reduction of several funding. It was even noted a few cases of discontinuance of certain promoters in the pursuit of the race for the creation of protected areas; while others were still able somehow advance the process. But the race continues and we are at a stage of finalization asking for more that never a strong collaboration and support between the different sectors. We thus trust that we will together meet the challenge of our biodiversity give the place it needs in national planning and of the Fourth World Perspective on biological diversity. We have thus participated to save what remains of biological diversity not only in our country but also of the entire planet Earth. Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity – Madagascar i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The evaluation of the implementation of the Madagascar Convention on Biological Diversity between the period 2010-2013 is transcribed in this fifth national report which saw a participatory approach unparalleled in the annals of the history of our biodiversity. Many stakeholders are involved in the preparation of this report, including: the public sector (government departments and Universities of Madagascar); technical partners (NGOs, associations, national and international institutions involved in biodiversity conservation and scientific research); environmental and rural development projects; designated authorities and officials of international treaties related to biodiversity; Platforms and other civil society; private sector directly or indirectly related with environmental issues and financial partners (foundations, donors and implementing agencies). Some two hundred people resources from different entities mentioned above, each according to his expertise and responsibilities helped us to provide relevant and valuable information. All these people have integrated different thematic working groups and sub-groups thereto established for this purpose and sharing their experiences and knowledge that helped develop and enrich this report. Thus we cannot not express our gratitude and sincere thanks to all those who participated in any way in the preparation of this report. Respectively, therefore, our thoughts go out to : the National Project Coordinator who gave the necessary impetus to the start but had, for reasons of health, prematurely terminate its participation in the project; different groups and sub-groups led by the coordination team; government departments who helped us according to their respective areas; technical and financial partners without which this report would have been incomplete; DGF, DGE and technical departments of the MEF; agencies under the supervision of MEF that have always been with us in the design and finalization of the report; Focal Points of the various treaties and conventions involved in biodiversity; members of the Technical Committee restricts who worked continuously with the coordination team, DCB.SAP team; writing and translation team;... briefly, the great big family of the Biodiversity Conservation. The National Focal Point CBD Madagascar Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity – Madagascar ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Madagascar possesses substantial wealth in biodiversity. This diversity is very important for the population’s welfare, in the economic, socio-cultural, environmental and scientific fields. The biodiversity is part of a multitude of ecosystems variations, both terrestrial and aquatic. The forests, the agricultural fields, the grassy areas mark the terrestrial ecosystems; while the aquatic ecosystems are composed of wetlands, continental waters, and coastal and marine areas. Madagascar is rich in flora and wildlife. Each origin is composed of different taxonomic groups with high interspecific diversity. Its high level of endemism, about 80%, also characterizes the wildlife and the flora of the Great Island. The various ecosystem types are home to a biologic complex of flora and fauna, sometimes very specific and diverse. In this fifth national report, the agro-biodiversity, the fungi, and the microorganisms are much more developed than before, and the genetic resources are also included because of their importance in considering the intra-specific diversity. The biodiversity is subjected to different threats which entail many negative impacts in its condition. This includes the irrational exploitation of resources such as the case of some precious wood species and the destruction of natural habitats in favor of other economic activities. Illicit collection and export of animal species, the most well- known are the tortoises and the sea turtles of Madagascar, the chameleons; lemur hunting is current threats in the protected areas and in other conservation sites. Real threats also exist due to the disturbance caused by climatic change and pollution, fires, land-use change, or implementation of infrastructures, and so forth... Such situation leads to biodiversity loss. This loss is particularly visible during the observation of ecosystems’ physiognomic change. Moreover, several initiatives are presently in-process: research projects, protected areas management projects, ex- situ conservations, conservation projects linked to local, regional, and national development. As for the species, the situation is rather ambiguous because, on one hand, it seems that some cases of extinction have occurred, but on the other hand, new species are being discovered, among others, 117 ants, 41 species of frogs, 18 species of reptiles, 1 species of bird, 4 species of lemurs, 4 species of bats, and about 50 Angiosperms have been described from 2010 to 2014. In some groups, a large number of forms are now being described or are not named yet. Many strategies of species conservation, but not all, are being implemented since 2010. Still within the context of research activities, let’s mention the extension of the International Training Center for biodiversity valorization. And presently, besides the facilities meant to hold its activities, it began in 2003 to build an air-conditioned laboratory, and later, it could have a conference room, a genetic laboratory, and a collection room. 93 Protected Areas in the V and VI of UICN categories are newly created, one of which is in the Northeastern part of Madagascar (New Protected Area of Makira, WCS Madagascar) that received the definitive decree of protection. For categories I, II and IV, 4 of the Protected Areas of the Madagascar National Parks’ network are definitively created. Altogether, the total areas of all categories make approximately 6.9 million ha. Almost all of them already have received their interdepartmental creation Decree and are about to obtain the definitive creation Decree. The sustainable management of biodiversity begins to be integrated in the public sectors’ planning according to their implication such as the implementation of the SAPM Commission, the steering committee of biodiversity projects (e.g. Biosecurity, Benefits Access and Sharing,) the steering committee on precious woods, the inter- Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity – Madagascar iii ministerial Committees (Mining-Forests, Hydrocarbons-Forests, Hydrocarbons-Fishing, Forests-Land Property,) and other Committees is given a new boost given the complexity of managing the biodiversity. In addition, the ministerial sectors play an important role in integrating the environmental dimension within each