H. Res. 839 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
November 4, 2009. 
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 three-quarters of Madagascar’s people live in rural 
areas and two-thirds live on less than $2 per day, safe-
guarding 
these 
natural 
resources 
is 
essential 
to 
Madagascar’s continued economic growth and develop-
ment; 
Whereas these natural resources contribute to economic de-
velopment through the tourism sector, drawing an esti-
mated $390,000,000 per year; 
Whereas, on March 17, 2009, Marc Ravalomanana was 
forced to resign as the democratically-elected President of 
Madagascar and Andry Rajoelina was installed as de 
facto head of state; 
Whereas, on March 20, 2009, the United States condemned 
the removal of Marc Ravalomanana and the installation 
of Andry Rajoelina as tantamount to a coup d’etat, un-
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democratic, and contrary to the rule of law, announced 
a suspension of non-humanitarian assistance, and later 
terminated compact assistance through the Millennium 
Challenge Corporation to the de facto Rajoelina govern-
ment; 
Whereas two-thirds of Madagascar’s people depend on nat-
ural resources for their sustenance and livelihoods, and 
decreased assistance for conservation efforts may have 
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 Wildlife Fund (WWF), 
Conservation International, and the Wildlife Conservation 
Society condemned an interministerial order issued by the 
de facto 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 natural resource degradation occurring under the de 
facto government includes— 
(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;
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(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 that rural 
communities depend upon represents 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) strongly condemns the March 2009 coup d’etat 
in Madagascar and supports the people of Madagascar 
in immediately undertaking a democratic, consensual 
process to restore constitutional governance, culminating 
in free, fair, and peaceful elections; 
(2) commends the African Union and the Southern 
African Development Community for taking strong ac-
tion against anti-democratic forces in Madagascar and 
encourage their continued resolve to return Madagascar 
to the rule of law; 
(3) strongly condemns the illegal extraction of 
Madagascar’s natural resources and its impact on bio-
diversity and livelihoods of rural communities, including
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illegal logging, smuggling of wild species, and illegal 
mining; 
(4) supports action by competent authorities and 
the people of Madagascar to stop this illegal devastation 
and bring those perpetrating these crimes to justice; 
(5) calls upon importing countries to intensify their 
inspection and monitoring processes to ensure that they 
do not contribute to the demand for illegally sourced 
precious woods from Madagascar; and 
(6) calls upon consumers of rosewood and ebony 
products to check their origin, and boycott those made 
of Malagasy wood, until constitutional order is restored. 
Attest: 
Clerk.