Excerpt from science.org
Madagascar has been isolated from mainland Africa and Asia for more than 80 million years and has developed a distinctive flora and fauna, with more than 90% of its species endemic to the island nation. It is also home to the Malagasy people, with a population of about 30 million, and was first colonized by humans around the first century BCE. The island’s biodiverse wildlife is highly threatened, and much of its human population lives below the poverty line. In Reviews, Antonelli et al. and Ralimanana et al. characterize the biological history and diversity of the island and examine conservation status and actions required to protect biodiversity and improve living standards and well-being for the Malagasy people. —SNV.
