Is What's Good For The Lemurs Also Good For The Locals?
To protect the ecosystem and its critters, Madagascar made it illegal to cut down rainforest land for agriculture — and promised to give farmers a new way to earn a living. How did that work out?
The population of Madagascar has more than doubled over the past generation, from 11.8 million in 1990 to 25 million today. And with more mouths to feed, residents are cutting down rainforests so there will be more land for agriculture.
That's a threat to the rainforest ecosystem. Madagascar rainforests are home to rare and endangered species like the black-and-white indri, the largest known lemur, topping out at about 20 pounds.
Responding to concerns from environmental groups, in 2015 the government restricted the clearing of
