Madagascar is fast losing its forest wilderness. But villagers are angered by moves to prevent them cutting down trees in recently created nature reserves.
[...]
"Our village has been burning forests to plant rice here for generations. Then suddenly they come and tell us we no longer have the right to do this," said Dimanche Dimasy, chief elder of Mahatsara village, which lies deep inside the eastern Mantadia forest reserve.
"This is our way of life. If we can't cut the forests, we can't feed ourselves.
Monday, February 14, 2005
NEWS - Madagascar wilderness in the balance
More on this recent story from BBC NEWS.
