Forest Depletion in Imperial Madagascar, c.1790–1861

This chapter argues that, contrary to the conventional view, the central highlands possessed considerable woodland until the eighteenth century, and that both highland and eastern woodlands were rapidly depleted in the period 1790-1861 due to the Merina crown and its adoption of autarkic policies. Recent research indicates that much of highland and western Madagascar possessed a mosaic of natural vegetation, including ancient stretches of savannah, and human occupation appears to have led to firing of woodland. Andrianampoinimerina prohibited tree cutting on Imerina's twelve sacred hills, in order to promote agriculture, encouraged deforestation and forbade tree planting. Human intervention indubitably caused depletion of the eastern rainforest which supplied trees for Betsimisaraka canoes, and ships for the French Mascarenes; and land for tavy under which forest plots on level or gently sloping land were fired and planted with rice for five to six years until diminishing yields led to relocation and clearance. Keywords: Andrianampoinimerina; Betsimisaraka canoes; firing of woodland; French Mascarenes; Imerina; Madagascar

Ancient history · Archaeology · Geography · African history and culture studies · Colonialism, slavery, and trade · Global Maritime and Colonial Histories · History

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