Protected areas are one of the main tools to face habitat loss and deforestation in Madagascar. Unfortunately, for various reasons, they are not always effective at stopping threats. The reasons to biodiversity loss is much more complex than we think in Madagascar. The solutions must take into account poverty alleviation, response to basic needs, mindset change in the use of slash and burn for agriculture and farming, etc

One thing is sure, biodiversity conservation in Madagascar can only be addressed in a holistic way; by responding to both economic and sociopolitical needs in the long run. It is impossible to depend on international aid in the long run. This is the reason why a petition was launched during the 56th ATBC edition. The petition request a long term commitment from the government to provide urgent actions by:

1. Tackling environmental crime and enforce laws with the cooperation of all governments
2. Investing more in Madagascar's protected areas
3. Ensuring major infrastructure developments limit impacts on biodiversity
4. Strengthening land tenure rights for local communities over natural resources and their responsibilities toward its management
5. Addressing Madagascar's growing fuel wood crisis through education