Land- tenure insecurity within and around Madagascar's Protected Areas: an obstacle to overcome for biodiversity conservation and rural development

Legislation concerning land-tenure in Madagascar has recently been substantially revised. In this context, "land within the scope of legislation relevant to protected areas" and "land requiring the enforcement of applicable official conventions pertaining to legislation concerning natural resource management" must be subject to a specific land-tenure regulation (article 38 from law 2005-019 of 17th October, 2005 which fixes the principles governing the different land-related statutes of Madagascar). The process of defining this specific statute has, however, been delayed. Nevertheless, following the 5th World Parks' Congress held in Durban, 2003, close to 20% of national land was assigned temporary protection status, prohibiting exploitation of all forest resources, even if essential to the local population's survival. Land-tenure insecurity impedes biodiversity conservation objectives and rural development. The necessary legal groundwork must urgently be established towards enabling rational regional planning decisions concerning the land. Recognition of and/or the granting of real rights to the local populations, in a manner registered by forest management, appears to be a means of encouraging subsequent territorial and social accountability; one of the conditions associated with the maintenance of ecosystem services.