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ABSTRACT Tropical dry forests are highly threatened by forest loss, posing substantial challenges for both the people and wildlife who rely on these ecosystems. Our study investigates the effectiveness of Kirindy Mitea National Park (KMNP) in western Madagascar in preventing tropical dry forest loss over a 30‐year period (1993–2023). Using satellite imagery to detect and analyze changes in land cover, we document a 31.4% reduction in tropical dry forest within the park, and a 63.2% reduction in tropical dry forest within a 5‐km wide unprotected park buffer zone. Rates of forest loss were significantly lower within the park (2.1% per year) compared to a nearby unprotected area (5.5% per year). However, rates of forest loss within the park have accelerated over time due to fire, agricultural encroachment, and selective logging. If those rates continue, all forest cover in the surrounding buffer zone could be lost by 2042, with complete forest loss within the park projected by 2071. Madagascar is not unique in this challenge. Tropical dry forests are globally underrepresented in conservation practice and policy, and even where formally protected, remain highly threatened. Our findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced management strategies and humanitarian interventions to meet local needs and mitigate the drivers of tropical dry forest loss.
Romanello et al. (Sat,) studied this question.