Page 6 - Madagascar Report

The Republic of Madagascar

Introduction
Key country indicators

Madagascar, also referred to as the Malagasy Population (2018) 24,200,000
Republic, is a member of the Southern Africa
Country Profile
Development Community (SADC) and is located GDP 9.7$ billion (US$)
in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. GNI
It is the world’s fourth largest island (ASCLME , Total land area 582,000 km 2
2012) with a land mass size of about 582,000
The Republic of Madagascar
square kilometres. In 2019 Malagasy population Length of coastline 5,500 km
was estimated at 24.2 million with its GDP set at Exclusive Economic Zone 1.14 million km 2
$9.7 billion (World Bank, 2017). Continental shelf km 2

Madagascar is endowed with a rich marine resource. Mangrove 2,991 km 2
Its coastline stretches to about 5,500 km while its EEZ Coral reef 2,230 km 2
is estimated at 1.14 million km (FAO, 2014). Its key Marine protected area 3.4% (of territorial
2
coastal features include the mangrove, estimated at water)
2,991 km , coral reef located along the coastline Source: (World Bank, 2017)
2
estimate at 2,230 km , marine protected areas,
2
estuaries and seagrass beds.

The South Equatorial Current, East Malagasy Current and the Mozambique Channel eddies significantly
influenced the climate of Madagascar. Their influence in the region result in the island experiencing
tidal range of about 3 metres during spring. Madagascar also has rich marine resources including
sharks, tuna and sawfishes. Unfortunately, some of these species are threatened, endangered and
vulnerable resource as classified in the IUCN. For instance, about 10 species of shark are near
threatened and three rare species of sawfishes are critically endangered.

Ecosystems management
The challenge
Madagascar’s mainland landscape is predominantly mountainous, hence inhibiting infrastructural
development and general economic development. However, drought, deforestation and
encroachment from human settlements are some of the challenges facing the coastal ecosystems
in Madagascar.

The situation
Coastal ecosystem in Madagascar consists of coral reefs, mangrove swamps, lagoons, estuaries,
seagrass beds and sandy beaches. While this rich coastal biodiversity is essential for tourism and
fisheries development, it is undergoing some degradation. For instance, the country has about 2 per
cent of the world’s mangroves, and the biggest area in eastern Africa, but signs of degradation and
deforestation are now evident (Jones , et al., 2016).

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