Deforestation and Land Degradation’s Impact on Ecosystem Services in Madagascar: A Systematic Review

Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot experiencing significant deforestation and land degradation, threatening its ecosystem services. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed journals, including systematic screening and data extraction from relevant articles. Deforestation has led to a reduction in carbon sequestration by up to 45% in forested areas ($\Delta C = -0.45 \pm 0.12$), where $C$ is the rate of carbon sequestration and uncertainty represented by the confidence interval. Deforestation and land degradation severely compromise Madagascar’s ecosystem services, necessitating urgent conservation efforts. Implement community-based forest management programmes to mitigate deforestation and enhance ecological resilience.