Biodiversity is not evenly distributed on the planet: 2.5% of Earth’s land area is home to 43% of unique species. On the island of Manadagascar the hotspot of Vohimana hosts 5% of vertebrates of its unique fauna on just 5 square km. It is also home of 160 medicinal plants. 6 of them are being exported for the European and American cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. Vohimana is now classified as a Humanity Intangible Cultural Heritage recognizing the knowledge of its traditional healer. The place had no conservation statut . The challenge was to involve the local communities into the sustainable management of the forest and in the degraded land restoration. It appeared possible through enhancing the value of the sustainable use of the natural resources. Setting up such sheme requires local NGOs in partnership with the private sector. Will the northern private sector funds such initiatives and their duplication quickly enough and with the opening mind required to experiment new models?
Just 2.5% of Earth’s land area is home to 43% of unique species. Learn more about the importance of protecting biodiversity: https://ow.ly/cBZe50P6kix via World Economic Forum
