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Complex Deforestation Patterns in and Around the Protected Areas of Madagascar from 2015 to 2023

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  • F. Ollier D. Andrianambinina

    (Madagascar National Parks, Ambatobe, BP 1424, Antananarivo 103, Madagascar
    Madagascar Program, World Resources Institute Africa, 29 Lalana Printsy Ratsimamanga, BP 3884, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar)

  • Jörg Ulrich Ganzhorn

    (Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Patrick O. Waeber

    (Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Länggasse 85, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
    Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Lucienne Wilmé

    (Madagascar Program, World Resources Institute Africa, 29 Lalana Printsy Ratsimamanga, BP 3884, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
    Madagascar Research and Conservation Program, Missouri Botanical Garden, BP 3391, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar)

Abstract

Madagascar’s protected areas (PAs) play a critical role in biodiversity conservation, yet deforestation continues to threaten both their integrity and surrounding landscapes. This study assesses deforestation patterns inside and within a 5 km buffer zone around terrestrial PAs from 2015 to 2023, using improved remote sensing data based on Landsat 8. We examine the influence of governance, PA category, proximity to infrastructure, and human population dynamics on deforestation rates. Our results illustrate that PAs categorized under IUCN I to IV generally experience lower deforestation rates inside their boundaries than PAs in categories V and VI. The latter often mirror the deforestation patterns observed in their surrounding buffer zones. Additionally, larger PAs, PAs with greater road accessibility, and areas experiencing migration-driven land-use changes exhibit higher amounts of deforestation. We highlight the role of buffer zones as deforestation absorbers and discuss the need for adaptive governance strategies that integrate local socio-economic realities to enhance conservation effectiveness. These findings offer critical insights for improving Madagascar’s PA management and broader land-use planning.

Suggested Citation

  • F. Ollier D. Andrianambinina & Jörg Ulrich Ganzhorn & Patrick O. Waeber & Lucienne Wilmé, 2025. "Complex Deforestation Patterns in and Around the Protected Areas of Madagascar from 2015 to 2023," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:4:p:698-:d:1620136
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Rachel A. Neugarten & Ranaivo A. Rasolofoson & Christopher B. Barrett & Ghislain Vieilledent & Amanda D. Rodewald, 2024. "The effect of a political crisis on performance of community forests and protected areas in Madagascar," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Ana S. L. Rodrigues & Marie-Morgane Rouyer, 2023. "Measuring the ecological benefits of protected areas," Nature, Nature, vol. 622(7981), pages 39-40, October.
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