Madagascar forest destruction wiping out humans' tiniest relative

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 / 7:03 AM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Madagascar forest destruction wiping out humans' tiniest relative

Rondro Ratsimbazafy, Hereward Holland
6 MIN READ

KIRINDY FOREST, Madagascar (Reuters) - As a shocked world watches fires ravage the Amazon, slash-and-burn farmers are wreaking proportionally worse destruction half a world away in Madagascar, driving humanity’s smallest relative - the Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur - to extinction.

Frustrated conservationists hope Friday’s arrival of the environmentally-conscious Pope Francis will spotlight the island that lost 2% of primary rainforest last year, the highest of any tropical nation according to the World Resources Institute.

“He should say that this forest is God’s creation. He gave it to us and for our own benefit,” said Anselme Toto Volahy, researcher from Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.

“If we don’t manage it well, we will destroy ourselves.”

The Kirindy forest, on the west of the island, spans 100,000 hectares (245,000 acres) but has lost almost half its size in two decades. Wastelands of blackened stumps are broken only by scorched trunks and twisted boughs of baobab trees resistant to fires.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-madagascar-environment/madagascar-forest-destruction-wiping-out-humans-tiniest-relative-idUSKCN1VR1AX

[pscot]

1. Human population has exploded

500% increase over 60 years. There's no room left for forests or the critters that live in them..

[progree]

3. Where did you get that number?

Last edited Fri Sep 6, 2019, 09:28 PM - Edit history (1)

Human population has exploded 500% increase over 60 years

In 1959 it was 2.98 billion. 60 years later, in 2019, it is 7.71 billion. That's a 159% increase.
https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/world-population-by-year/

Yes, it's still a lot, and an explosion.

[pscot]

4. My bad

I was referring to Madagascar. Population has increased from Approximately 6 million to 30 million since 1960.

[progree]

5. My bad - I should have thought you might be referring to Madagascar n/t

[Karadeniz]

2. I'm so tired of myopic people.