Madagascar (Toamasina)

The Comoros Islands represent a critical biodiversity hotspot in the western Indian Ocean, characterized by volcanic landscapes and endemic-rich ecosystems. According to IUCN Red List 2025 data, all 26 assessed species are critically endangered, representing a 100% threat rate across birds, insects, other invertebrates, molluscs, and arachnids. This archipelago's isolation has fostered exceptional endemism, particularly within its montane cloud forests, coastal scrublands, and remnant lowland forests on Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Mohéli. The most pressing threats include rapid deforestation driven by ylang-ylang cultivation and subsistence agriculture on steep volcanic slopes, leading to severe soil erosion. Urban expansion in Moroni and other coastal settlements fragments remaining habitats, while invasive species introductions threaten native fauna. Climate change poses additional risks through sea-level rise affecting coastal ecosystems and altered precipitation patterns impacting cloud forest communities. Mohéli Marine Park, established in 2001 as the country's first marine protected area, demonstrates local conservation commitment. The Coelacanth Marine Park around Grande Comore protects critical marine biodiversity. However, limited institutional capacity and economic pressures continue to challenge conservation implementation. The trajectory appears deteriorating given the universal critical endangerment status and ongoing habitat conversion pressures across all three main islands.