Madagascar

Madagascar is an island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa. Its narrow coastal plain rises to central mountains. The islands isolation from the African continent has resulted in many endemic species, with 90% of its flora and fauna found nowhere else. Most of the country is used for human activities, in its majority by rangeland. Madagascar has high biodiversity rarity of terrestrial land vertebrates at a global scale. When analysed as single taxons, the rarity of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles is also high. The rarity of marine fish and mammals is also high. Challenges to biodiversity include soil erosion and degradation; deforestation; desertification; and surface water pollution.