Synopses & Reviews
Madagascar is home to one of the worldandrsquo;s greatest concentration of biodiversityandmdash;but that biodiversity is also among the most threatened on the planet. For decades, conservationists from the developed world have been working to protect those riches, for the earth and for the people of Madagascar. This diary from the late Alison Jolly, who was one of the leading figures in that movement, captures the successes and failures of those efforts, as well as the complicated, fundamental questions that they raise.
Offering a rich account of the lives of people who live on Madagascar, and the daily work of conservation science, Jolly reveals the beauty and tragedy of the islandandrsquo;s biological richness. To whom, she asks, does that richness belong? Is it a heritage for the entire world? A legacy of the forest dwellersandrsquo; ancestors, bequeathed to todayandrsquo;s people to serve their needs? Or is it an economic resource, to be pillaged for short-term gain, preserved only to the extent that it offers some sort of financial return for those who wield political and economic power? Negotiating the pitfalls of conservation efforts driven by these questions, Jolly presents an unflinching portrait of contemporary conservation in action, of its possibilities and problems alike.
Review
and#8220;A captivating and absorbing account.and#8221;
Review
andquot;Without a doubt one of the very best books about conservation. It ranges from the authorand#39;s work with Madagascarand#39;s fascinating and unique lemurs, efforts at all levels to protect their habitat, sympathetic descriptions of village life, and the often highly amusing stories of what goes on behind the scenes during high level meetings. The information presented in diary form makes you feel you were present, sharing the excitements, disappointments and triumphs that are part of the on going struggle to save the environment. And for those of us who knew and loved Allison, it is as though she is with us still, suggesting we do our best to save this planet for our children. I was truly absorbed from start to finish.andquot;
Review
andquot;A gripping tale of the birthing years of the environmental movement in Madagascar. Jolly is a great story-teller, and brings to life the first studies of the unique wildlife of Madagascar. Sometimes provocative, often funny and always with wisdom about human nature, this tale is history at its best, a first hand view of the intrigues of complex politics and the drive of determined researchers at the frontiers of wild science. The pathos of human poverty and the richness of wildlife are one story, and Jolly brings you Madagascar with all its complexities.andquot;
Review
andquot;Jollyandrsquo;s amazing eyewitness account takes us from the halls of the World Bank to the huts of forest villagers - and even to the ethics of mining companies. I recommend it especially to the Malagasy friends and colleagues who struggle for sustainability for our country.andquot;
Synopsis
Saving Madagascar is an eyewitness account of a First World conservationistsand#8217; attempts to rescue the extraordinary biodiversity of Madagascar - and the environment of its people. At the bookand#8217;s heart is a conflict between three different views of nature. Is the extraordinary forest treasure-house of Madagascar, with its beauty and evolved fascination for science, a heritage for the entire world? Is it instead a legacy of the forest dwellersand#8217; ancestors, bequeathed to serve the needs of their living descendants? Or is it an economic resource to pillage for short-term gain, to preserve only in the measure of return in environmental services for those with political power?
Beautifully written, this book is a diary of people and animals of Madagascar
Synopsis
'An enchanting book...poignant and passionate.'
Geographical
'A captivating and absorbing account.'
Sir David Attenborough
Madagascar is one of the world's natural jewels, with over ninety per cent of its wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Few people knew it better than the pioneering primatologist and conservationist, Alison Jolly. Thank You, Madagascar is her eyewitness account of the extraordinary biodiversity of the island, and the environment of its people.
At the book's heart is a conflict between three different views of nature. Is the extraordinary forest treasure-house of Madagascar a heritage for the entire world? Is it a legacy of the forest dwellers' ancestors, bequeathed to serve the needs of their living descendants? Or is it an economic resource to be pillaged for short-term gain and to be preserved only to deliver benefits for those with political power?
Exploring and questioning these different views, this is a beautifully written diary and a tribute to Madagascar.
About the Author
Alison Jolly (1937-2014) was a primatologist known for her studies of lemur biology, and she conducted extensive fieldwork in Madagascar.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Foreword - Hilary Bradt
Introduction - Margaretta Jolly
My adventurous and astonishing mother
Chronology of events
Dramatis personae xxix
Map of madagascar
1. and#39;Our country is committing Suicideand#39;
Part I: Villages
2. Dancing in the Rainforest
3. Burning Baobabs, Death of Children
4. David Attenborough, Madame Bertheand#39;s Mouse lemur, and School among the Baobabs
5. Eleanor and the Aye-Ayes
Part II: Politics: Saving Madagascar
6. Where Indri Sing
7. Napoleon versus the Zoos
8. The Bank Corrals the Donors
9. Dishing out the Dough
10. Our Cash killed Bedo
11. The Bank Goes to the Forest
Part III: Research and Development
12. Golden Bamboo Lemurs of Ranomafana
13. Patricia Walked the Boundaries
14. The Village of the Fig Tree
15. Development Meltdown
16: Real Life And DreamWorks.
17. President Ratsiraka
18. Madame Berthe was Dancing
Part IV: Weather
19. Famine in the South
20. Lemurs coping
21. Scientists, People, Lemurs: Berenty, Bezandagrave; Mahafaly and Tsimanampetsotsa
22. Climate Change
Part V: Money
23. Durban Vision: Rosewood Massacre
24. The New Mines
25. Where are We Now?
References
Photographic credits
Index