Between August and September, fires caused by slash-and-burn agriculture destroyed over 3,212 acres of forest in Ankarafantsika National Park in northwestern Madagascar. Madagascar’s environment minister Alexandre Georget told reporters that the country needs help from the international community, especially in securing fire-fighting aircraft. “Every year, around 120,000 hectares [297,000 acres] of forest disappear, mostly as a result of slash-and-burn farming. If the destruction continues at this rate, Madagascar will be completely deforested in 40 years,” said Georget. Rising demand for corn and peanuts has driven local farmers to clear protected forests. For the full story, see https://news.mongabay.com/2019/10/madagascar-calls-for-assistance-as-fires-imperil-its-protected-areas/.