Preserving_the_Rainforest_of_Madagascar

Preserving the Rainforest of Atsinanana Ashley Miles BIO/100 4/24/2011 Judy Erlandson The temperature is 86 degrees Fahrenheit, the air is moist and it is hot and humid. The trees are luscious and thick filled with green leaves from the canopy to the upper canopy. Just standing still and silent you can hear the call of the birds, the yelling of the monkeys and the crinkle of the leaves from the animals on the ground level. What am I talking about, the rainforest! The rainforest of Atsinanana, located in Madagascar Africa. This rainforest is one of the most beautiful places in the world and filled with rich animal and plant life. “The rainforest of Atsinanana is made up of six national parks; these parks make up the rainforest and are along the coastline of Madagascar” (Madagascar's Water, 2011). The one problem with this forest is that it is endangered just like several rainforest. We have to preserve this wonder, this beauty of the world. Madagascar and its rainforest are nestled in the Indian Ocean. One thing that the Indian Ocean does not lack is rich wildlife, which is why this area is on the priority list for preserving. In this part of the western Indian Ocean you will find that it is home to several endangered species from coast to coast. “Madagascar stretches over 3,100 miles long” (Madagascar's Water, 2011). In the water surrounding Madagascar you will find the Sea turtle, dudongs and sharks to name a few. On land the rainforest are filled with diverse life form as well. Madagascar is the home to several species of the lemur. The bamboo, black and dwarf lemur all call Madagascar their home. They all live and survive from what the rainforest provide to them. Also located in the rainforest of Madagascar you will find that is vary rear and exclusive to Madagascar is the Tenrec. “Madagascar has over 30 species of Tenrec found in its rainforest” (The Real Animals of Madagascar, 2005). The Tenrec is a small mammal that is an insectivore and compared to the possum, hedgehog and shrew. The plant life in Atsinanana was once rich and full of evergreen trees and the land from coast to coast was sprawling with dense forest now little remains. The once lush region has been cut down for rice farms; advancement technology and logging for beautiful wood to put in the homes that we are building here. “Seven eighths of the land and forest is covered with prairie grass, bamboo and small thin trees” (Madagascar, 2011). Lastly the people of Madagascar that depend so heavily of the rainforest for food, shelter and money. The people of Madagascar are called the Malagasy. “Over 50 percent of the people on the area are indigenous and use the land in order to survive and eat” (The Real Animals of Madagascar, 2005). The Malagasy make extra money off of tourist that desire to see the rainforest. With all the diverse life forms in Madagascar from the sea life, to the animals and the human life one would think that they are separate. They all depend on each other to survive and need each other in order to make what Madagascar what it is today. In any ecosystem, the organisms that make it up all depend on each other in order for survival. Is there a reason why organisms evolve relationships among life forms' Yes there is a reason and in order to understand this we need to examine the lemur species in this region. As stated before the rainforest of Madagascar are home to the largest species of the lemur population. The reason for such a large species of lemurs has to do with the exclusiveness and isolation of the island which has allowed the lemurs to evolve. Whenever an ecosystem is rich in resources and untouched by human intrusion it will thrive and species will evolve. Lemurs are not the only species that has evolved. “There are over 800 species of butterflies and the same for birds (Madagascar, 2011). So what will happen if humans intrude into this ecosystem' What will happen to the biodiversity of the area' In ecosystems all over the world, humans are intruding in order to expand. Humans need to expand because the world population is ever growing. The problem is that there is no more room to build so developers are cutting into the rainforest for land. Trees are also being cleared away in the rainforest of Atsinanana because of farming needs. The more people you have the more food and crops are needed, thus resulting in more rice fields. Then trees are being cut down in this region for their wood. The wood is being exported and put into the homes of thousands around the world. What is all of this doing to the rainforest of Atsinanana' It is destroying the rainforest and its inhabitants. If all the trees are cut down the diverse species of Lemurs will not have a place to swing through the trees or rest with their young. The caterpillar will not have a tree to nestle on and metamorph into one of the 800 species of butterflies that make the rainforest of Madagascar one of the most beautiful places in the world. We must preserve, it is our duty to preserve this rich land because if not we will suffer serious consequences. If the rainforest of Atsinanana are not preserved than countless of plant, animals will begin to die off. Without resources, food and shelter organism will dwindle off and could become extinct if conditions are not fixed. It is all a process and we all depend on one another in order for survival. Let’s look at the common bee, although small in size and a very threatening organism they are so important to how we function today. The bee is Mother Nature’s way of pollinating the world, without their role on this planet human would not have food. Just is the same for the Tenuk, although seemingly small and insignificant the Tenuk is an insectivore and eats insects that may be pest to other animals. Each organism is dependent upon the other whether plant or animal for survival and changing the dynamics of the ecosystem in any way can greatly impact the world including humans! There is hope there are efforts being made in order to preserve the rainforest of Atsinanana. There are organizations such as The World Heritage Convention that recognize the importance of linking humans to conservation. The World Heritage Convention has placed the Rainforest of Atsinanana on the endangered list because of the devastation humans have caused to the land. This committee is made up of several countries that have banded together to preserve the land and inhabitants of this island and other endangered properties around the world. It is not a region problem it is a global problem. By placing the Rainforest of Atsinanana of the endangered list this means that the animals are protected, no poaching or capturing. Instead they are encouraged to thrive, by starting breeding programs. Individually, the inhabitants can start by caring about their land and all it has to offer. Embrace the conservation efforts that are being made and only use what is necessary in order to survive. Additionally I feel that the Rainforest of Atsinanana should be placed as the ninth wonder of the world. The land is beautiful and is home to several species that you can only find in this region of the world. If this land was place as one of the wonders of the world it would be protected from any human intrusion and permission would have to be given to even set foot in the forest. I believe in order to get these rainforest off of the endangered list the Malagasy are going to have to take the first stand. If they show that they are serious about saving their home, than others would be more prone to take an active role. An active role would help on the financial side and give to the preservation efforts. All things need money and people to operate. Also people need to know about the Rainforest of Atsinanana being on the endangered list. Before researching about these particular rainforest I never knew they even existed. The only rainforest I knew about was the Amazon rainforest. Making these rainforest more public and educating the world about them will draw people to want to preserve this awesome wonder of the world. In all we all need each other to survive the next evolution of this planet from the Rainforest of Atsinanana to the smallest insect half a world away. Their very existence depends on our next moves globally. Works Cited Madagascar. (2011). Retrieved April 23rd, 2011, from Encyclopedia Britannica: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/355562/Madagascar/23462/Plant-and-animal-life Madagascar's Water. (2011). Retrieved April 23rd, 2011, from Wildlife Conservation Society: http://www.wcs.org/where-we-work/oceans/west-indian-ocean/madagascar.aspx The Real Animals of Madagascar. (2005). Retrieved April 23rd, 2011, from Wild Madagascar: http://www.wildmadagascar.org/wildlife/animals.html