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Ecologists inMadagascar are highlyworked up about the plans ofBritish conglomerate, RioTinto Zinc, to mine 3 littoralforests around Tolanaro,a port in the southern partof the country. Locals fearthat the company willchop down all trees, depriving the people of charcoaland firewood.
The Malagasy parliamentis expected to give the greensignal to the company nextmonth, in the hope of creating the island's largest sourceof revenue. "It's importantfor Madagascar that this project goes ahead", says MaxRakoto-Andriantsilavo,manager of the state agencyinvesting in the project.
However, Friends of theEarth, the international environmental group, does nottake such a rosy view. Thegroup predicts that much ofthe revenue will go to foreigncreditors without alleviatingpoverty. Further, the minecould destroy much of theManderut, St Luce andPetriky forests, lining thesouthern coast, threateningthe existence of many a species from trees and orchidsto chameleons.