Forest and Labor in Madagascar: From Colonial Concession to Global Biosphere

by Genese Marie Sodikoff

Protecting the unique plants and animals that live on Madagascar while fueling economic growth has been a priority for the Malagasy state, international donors, and conservation NGOs since the late 1980s. Forest and Labor in Madagascar shows how poor rural workers who must make a living from the forest balance their needs with the desire of the state to earn foreign revenue from ecotourism and forest-based enterprises. Genese Marie Sodikoff examines how the appreciation and protection of Madagascar's biodiversity depend on manual labor. She exposes the moral dilemmas workers face as both conservation representatives and peasant farmers by pointing to the hidden costs of ecological conservation.

Genres: Anthropology, Madagascar

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

Reviews

[Georgina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good contribution to work understanding the social context of conservation initiatives. Really important integration of labor in the context of conservation.