Heat waves to intensify in Madagascar, one of Earth’s richest biodiversity hotspots: WWA study

Subject: Environment

Section: Protected Areas

Context:

Details:

Madagascar’s population, heavily affected by poverty and lacking access to basic amenities, faces increased health risks due to extreme heat. Malaria cases in Antananarivo are rising as warmer temperatures expand the mosquito range.
Madagascar ranks 124th out of 125 countries in the 2023 Global Hunger Index, highlighting alarming levels of hunger with a score of 41.0.

Geography of Medagascar:

Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island and is second-largest island country, located just off the western coast of the African mainland in the Indian Ocean.
Antananarivo is the capital city.
Madagascar is a global hotspot, home to a vast array of unique plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth.
Mangoky River: One of Madagascar’s major rivers, flowing from the central highlands to the Mozambique Channel, impacting local ecosystems and communities.
Around 90% of Madagascar’s wildlife is endemic, featuring iconic species like lemurs, fossas, chameleons, and unique flora such as baobab trees and orchids.
- Lemurs: This primate group is endemic of Madagascar, and are wet-nosed primates of the superfamily Lemuroidea.
- With over 100 species of lemurs, showcasing a range of sizes, behaviors, and habitats.
Tsingy de Bemaraha: A unique limestone formation in western Madagascar, characterized by sharp, needle-like limestone formations.
Threats to Biodiversity: Deforestation, habitat loss due to agriculture, logging, and illegal wildlife trade pose significant threats to Madagascar’s unique flora and fauna.

World Weather Attribution (WWA):

Established in 2014.
It operates globally, with collaborations and contributions from climate scientists and institutions worldwide.
Aim and Objective: World Weather Attribution aims to rapidly assess and attribute extreme weather events to climate change.
- Its objective is to provide quick, scientifically grounded analyses to determine the influence of human-induced climate change on specific weather events, thereby enhancing public understanding and awareness of the connections between climate change and extreme weather occurrences.