IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 839 
Condemning the illegal extraction of Madagascar’s natural resources. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 15, 2009 
Mr. BLUMENAUER (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, and Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA) sub-
mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Condemning the illegal extraction of Madagascar’s natural 
resources. 
Whereas Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island, and 
home to up to 150,000 species of unique flora and fauna; 
Whereas during the last 20 years, with the support of the 
U.S. Government and others, Madagascar has made sub-
stantial progress in stopping environmental degradation, 
effectively managing natural resources and preserving its 
unique biodiversity; 
Whereas these natural resources provide essential benefits 
and services for the basic needs of the majority of 
Madagascar’s people, three-quarters of whom live in rural 
areas and two-thirds of whom live on less than $2 per 
day; 
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•HRES 839 IH 
Whereas these natural resources also provide economic devel-
opment in the tourism sector, drawing an estimated 
$390,000,000 per year; 
Whereas the Obama Administration has condemned Marc 
Ravalomanana’s forced resignation as President of the 
Republic of Madagascar, and Andry Rajoelina’s installa-
tion as de facto head of state, as tantamount to a coup 
d’etat, undemocratic, and contrary to the rule of law; 
Whereas in March 2009, the Obama Administration an-
nounced a suspension of non-humanitarian assistance to 
the de facto Andry Rajoelina government; 
Whereas, given that 2⁄3 of people live off the natural re-
sources, decreased assistance for conservation efforts is 
having dire humanitarian consequences; 
Whereas the African Union and the Southern African Devel-
opment Community have suspended Madagascar’s par-
ticipation until constitutional order is restored; 
Whereas in October 2009, the World Wide Fund (WWF), 
Conservation International, and the Wildlife Conservation 
Society condemned an interministerial order issued by the 
current administration granting sweeping authorization 
to export raw and semi-processed hard wood as 
‘‘legaliz[ing] the sale of illegally cut and collected wood 
onto the market; allow[ing] for the potential embezzle-
ment of funds in the name of environmental protection 
and constitut[ing] a legal incentive for further corruption 
in the forestry sector’’; 
Whereas the following natural resource degradation is occur-
ring under the de facto government’s watch— 
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•HRES 839 IH 
(1) open and organized plundering of precious wood 
from natural forests, including World Heritage Sites such 
as Marojejy and Masoala National Parks; 
(2) intimidation and menace of legitimate local com-
munity management structures, and expropriation of rev-
enue and benefits from them, causing suffering and im-
poverishment; 
(3) intensified smuggling of endemic and protected 
species and species parts and/or products to the national 
and international markets; 
(4) proliferation of destructive practices such as ille-
gal mining and slash-and-burn agriculture within pro-
tected areas and environmentally sensitive areas; 
(5) degradation of forests, pushing some rosewood 
and ebony species to the brink of extinction; and 
(6) the degradation of the resource base upon which 
rural communities depend representing an immediate and 
future threat to local governance, local incomes, and food 
security; and 
Whereas the vast majority of this precious wood is destined 
for global export markets: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) calls on people of Madagascar to imme-
diately undertake a democratic, consensual process 
to restore constitutional governance, culminating in 
free, fair and peaceful elections; 
(2) strongly condemns the illegal extraction of 
Madagascar’s natural resources and its impact on 
biodiversity and livelihoods of rural communities, in-
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