Clovis Razafimalala is a human rights defender and environmental activist from Madagascar. He is best known for his advocacy against the
illegal logging in Madagascar.
Razafimalala, described by
Mongabay as possibly Madagascar's best known activist.
He won the
German Africa Prize The German Africa Prize or German Africa Award (german: Deutscher Afrika-Preis) has been awarded annually since 1993 by the (german: Deutsche Afrika Stiftung) to promote peace, democracy, social market economy and human rights. In addition to these ...
in 2018.
Biography
Razafimalala has campaigned against the use of
rosewood in Madagascar since 2009. In April, following the
2009 Malagasy political crisis
The 2009 Malagasy political crisis began on 26 January 2009 with the political opposition movement led by Antananarivo mayor Andry Rajoelina, which sought to oust President Marc Ravalomanana from the presidency. The crisis reached its climax in t ...
, with five friends he started the
Maroantsetra-based radio program ''Radio 2000'', at which they discussed the illegal
ebony and rosewood logging. Within one month, someone burned his house down. In the mid 2010's he founded the Lampogno MaMaBaie organisation, focussed on protecting the
Masoala
''Masoala'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Arecaceae. It contains the following species, both endemic to Madagascar:Jumelle, Henri Lucien. 1933. Annales du Musée Colonial de Marseille, sér. 5, 1(1): 8.
* ''Masoala kona'' Beentje ...
and
Makira national parks from illegal resource extraction. Razafimalala also serves as the regional coordinator of the National Environmental Advocacy Coalition.
In 2016, Clovis was accused of orchestrating a riot after a fellow timber advocate was arrested. Despite not being present during the violent protest, he was imprisoned for these crimes. After a wave of support and a surprise trial, Clovis was eventually released.
In 2017, he was charged with arson, fined and sentenced to five years of imprisonment, although immediately released on parole.
See also
*
Illegal logging in Madagascar
References
{{Portal bar, Biography, Environment, Madagascar
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
Malagasy environmentalists