Community-Driven and Data-Informed Governance to Tackle Wildlife Trafficking in Madagascar

Wildlife trafficking in Madagascar poses major threats to its globally unique biodiversity and the socio-economic well-being of its communities. This paper analyzes the effectiveness of national policies, institutional reforms, and community-based conservation mechanisms in response to this threat. Using spatial data, legal frameworks, and management tools such as IMET and METT, the study assesses improvements in governance and outcomes. This case also integrates recent data on 121 seizures from 2000–2021, including 80,112 logs and nearly 35,000 animals. The study incorporates spatial tools, socio-political analysis, and policy mechanisms that reflect advances in governance. It highlights the potential of moral, inclusive, and evidence-led conservation rooted in local realities.