Rainforests of the Atsinanana, Madagascar Essay Example
Rainforests of the Atsinanana, Madagascar
Christy Haakenson
SCI230
Introduction to Life Science
Paula Roberts
March 27, 2011
The Rainforests of the Atsinanana is a place like no other. The continent of Madagascar can be found 200 miles off the east coast of Africa and completed full separation from all other land masses more than 60 million years ago (Staff W., 2001). The island of Madagascar has lived in isolation and with isolation gives the Rainforests of Atsinanana an abundance of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. This unique place is made up of six national parks and was approved by UNESCO committee in New Zealand (WWF, n.d.). The Rainforests of Atsinanana is currently on the list of world heritage sites in danger because of government influenced illegal logging and lemur bush meat consumption (WWF, n.d.). Madagascar is a “biodiversity hotspot” (PFM, 2009). Atsinanana is home to approximately 12,000 plant species known in Madagascar in which 80% of the species and nine of the plant families cannot be found anywhere else in the world (PFM, 2009). With the rainforests of Atsinanana in Madagascar obtaining an amazing biodiversity, scientists believe there are two main reasons for this. First, Madagascar has been isolated for more than 60 million years, and second that it has seven different ecoregions, ranging from tropical rainforests to deserts. These two reasons scientists have found combined give organisms enough time and variety of habitats to adapt to giving the Rainforests of the Atsinanana a variety of plants and animals. The six national parks on the eastern part of the island are important for maintaining the continuing ecological system (2005). This ecological system is extremely important for the survival of the biodiversity within the island. The rainforests of the Astinanana hold their importance for the ecological and biological processes as well as the biodiversity and the species that are threatened (2005). The
Christy Haakenson
SCI230
Introduction to Life Science
Paula Roberts
March 27, 2011
The Rainforests of the Atsinanana is a place like no other. The continent of Madagascar can be found 200 miles off the east coast of Africa and completed full separation from all other land masses more than 60 million years ago (Staff W., 2001). The island of Madagascar has lived in isolation and with isolation gives the Rainforests of Atsinanana an abundance of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. This unique place is made up of six national parks and was approved by UNESCO committee in New Zealand (WWF, n.d.). The Rainforests of Atsinanana is currently on the list of world heritage sites in danger because of government influenced illegal logging and lemur bush meat consumption (WWF, n.d.). Madagascar is a “biodiversity hotspot” (PFM, 2009). Atsinanana is home to approximately 12,000 plant species known in Madagascar in which 80% of the species and nine of the plant families cannot be found anywhere else in the world (PFM, 2009). With the rainforests of Atsinanana in Madagascar obtaining an amazing biodiversity, scientists believe there are two main reasons for this. First, Madagascar has been isolated for more than 60 million years, and second that it has seven different ecoregions, ranging from tropical rainforests to deserts. These two reasons scientists have found combined give organisms enough time and variety of habitats to adapt to giving the Rainforests of the Atsinanana a variety of plants and animals. The six national parks on the eastern part of the island are important for maintaining the continuing ecological system (2005). This ecological system is extremely important for the survival of the biodiversity within the island. The rainforests of the Astinanana hold their importance for the ecological and biological processes as well as the biodiversity and the species that are threatened (2005). The