Last week conservationists expressed concerns that Madagascar’s unique flora and fauna could be devastated during the political instability the island is experiencing. Sadly it seems these predictions have come true.

The Marojejy national park has posted a statement on its website reporting that it is temporarily closed.

“The closure was deemed necessary by park management due to the lawlessness that has descended over the SAVA region during this time of political unrest in Madagascar, and the resultant looting and destruction which is currently occurring within the park,” says the statement. “In particular, gangs of armed men (led primarily by foreign profiteers in conjunction with the rich local mafia) are plundering the rainforests of Marojejy for the extremely valuable rosewood that grows there.”

As well as the rosewood trees, Marojejy’s unique Silky Sifaka lemur is also under threat.

“The park has never been closed since it was opened, as far as I know. For a national park to be closed because of illegal logging is unprecedented, and outrageous,” says Erik Patel, a PhD student at Cornell University who has worked in Madagascar on the Silky Sifaka.

The hardwood trees could be wiped out by the current activity, he told Nature News. “Logging will lead to their extinction, no question. It has massive consequences.”

One local source, who asked to remain anonymous due to fears over their personal safety, says, “It’s breaking my heart but I’m quite hopeless and condemned to stay as a useless witness in front of this slaughter. Years of effort destroyed in a couple of days, years of love for this region, reduced to pieces just for money.”

National Geographic also has a sizeable story on the problem in Marojejy. Conservationist Mireya Mayor told the magazine, “I’m gutted and at a loss to describe how bad this situation is. Thirty years of successful conservation initiatives is now at risk of being totally destroyed.”

Image: NASA