Posted on August, 17 2018

And the consequences observed by scientists are alarming. Ocean temperatures are still extremely high - the ocean level has increased by an average of 7.7 cm since 1993. Moreover, since 2014, bleaching phenomena have increased and the world’s corals are gradually dying. A WWF study in 2018 even showed that with a temperature increase of 2° C, up to 25% of Madagascar’s lemur species.
 
Local communities also bear the brunt of climate change. The Climate Crowd tool has indicated that the western part of Madagascar has observed a decrease in rainfall, a change of seasons, a change in the wind regime, as well as periods of heat wave and drought. All of these changes result in a loss of productivity in agriculture and fishing, reduced availability of freshwater, and a greater upsurge in disease. More often than not, local communities are clueless about the impacts of these climate changes, and adapt with relatively destructive practices to survive (use of destructive fishing gear, overfishing, exploitation of forest resources).
 
Alongside WCS, Fanamby and the Land Protected Areas Forum in Madagascar (LAFA), WWF is supporting the managers of these Malagasy protected areas to integrate ecosystem-based adaptation. Ecosystem-based adaptation is a management policy that maintains the resilience of natural ecosystems. This means that it facilitates the ability of forests to regenerate against the effects of climate change and natural hazards (cyclones, floods, etc…). This management also allows supports local populations who depend on the services and goods provided by these ecosystems.