In this island's 600,000 square kilometer area, there are three dramatically different ecosystems which support 150,000 species unique to the island. There are baobab trees in the arid south, hundreds of species of lemurs are in the humid, lush rain forests and in the east, along the coast there are deciduous trees. It is a biologist's dream laboratory. However there is the people factor. The main industries in Madagascar are agriculture and cattle grazing.
Rice is the most important crop in Madagascar.
This includes hunting animals and harvesting wild fruits and plants. The forests are also harvested for wood to use as fuel, building or for export. However, many crops and grazing land are only sustainable in the thin, red layer of earth for about 2 to 3 years. The harvesting of wood for fuel is increasing due to the growing population. The island's most severe environmental problems arise from deforestation.