Pope Francis denounces the illegal logging and exploitation of Madagascar's unique natural resources as he opens a visit to the Indian Ocean nation.
Pope Francis and Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina, right, arrive at the Ceremony Palace in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Francis is in Madagascar for the second leg of his weeklong trip to Africa.
“The deterioration of that biodiversity compromises the future of the country and of the earth, our common home,” Francis warned Rajoelina and other government authorities as he began the second leg of his weeklong trip to southern Africa. “Your lovely island of Madagascar is rich in plant and animal biodiversity, yet this treasure is especially threatened by excessive deforestation, from which some profit,” Francis said. He cited forest fires, poaching and the “unrestricted cutting down of valuable woodlands” as particular threats.
Transparency International, which ranks Madagascar among the most corrupt countries, has accused local public officials of complicity or negligence in the illegal logging, mining of gold and sapphires and the poaching of tortoises, turtles and exportation of lemurs. Francis, the world’s first pope from the global south, acknowledged that some of the island’s poor have no choice but to cut down forests to find soil or extract minerals in illegal ways that damage the environment.
“We work a lot to try to prevent that and work with farmers to help them with new techniques to kind of re-energize the soil so that they could use it again,” said James Hazen, CRS country representative.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Deforestation must be seen as global threat: pope in MadagascarPope Francis said on Saturday rapid deforestation and reduction in biodiversity ...
Read more »
Pope denounces exploitation of Madagascar's unique resourcesPope Francis has denounced the illegal logging and exploitation of Madagascar's unique natural resources as he opened a visit to the Indian Ocean nation
Read more »
Why Pope Francis struggles in AfricaWith the locus of Christianity moving southward, sub-Saharan Africa represents the faith's greatest hope
Read more »
Pope denounces danger of corruption in Mozambique MassPope Francis wraps up his visit to Mozambique by meeting with HIV-infected mothers and children at a Catholic Church-run hospital in one of countries hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic, nwinfield writes.
Read more »