The Evolution of Threats to Protected Areas During Crises: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic in Madagascar

Abstract The impact of global or national crises on nature conservation efficiency remains insufficiently researched. We examine how specific threats developed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Madagascar’s protected areas, which are important biodiversity hotspots, and how the crisis impacted conservation actors and local communities. Drawing on interviews with stakeholders from the country’s multifaceted conservation network, we identify developments of individual threats and demonstrate that the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic on nature conservation are by no means uniform. While unsustainable activities for the purpose of self-sufficiency increased nationwide due to the economic downturn and COVID-19 restrictions, larger-scale economic threats to protected areas were linked to more complex factors and varied across the country and through distinct phases of the pandemic. Local alternative livelihood activities often failed to compensate for pandemic-related economic losses, particularly those from tourism and instead amplified pressure on protected areas and biodiversity due to their reliance on natural forest resources. Furthermore, threats to conservation assets were exacerbated as many conservation actors struggled to implement their projects and educational programs, which are crucial for integrating the local population into environmental efforts. However, despite these challenges, individual actors could temporarily intensify their endeavors by increasing their patrolling activities and securing additional emergency funding. Our findings show that adaptive crisis management is urgently needed in many organizations and that implementing participatory approaches and involving local actors in management structures and project planning are promising approaches during crises.