HIGHLIGHTS. The SWAT+ model generated greater surface runoff, while the SWAT 2012 model resulted in higher groundwater flow.CSFR data exhibited high precipitati

Assessing water resources at a large river basin scale is important for having an idea of the water situation and efficient water resources management. What is the most appropriate approach to assess the water resources at a large river basin scale? This paper aims to develop a systematic review on water resources assessment at a large river basin scale, intending to present a new assessment method for the major river basins in Madagascar. This review investigates 40 articles from Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed databases, from 2000 to 2022. This review has demonstrated the necessity of water resources assessment at a large river basin scale in Madagascar. An improvement in the use of multiple GCMs and SWAT models for water resources assessment within the basin was found necessary for appropriate water allocating regimes among upper and lower reaches. Water allocation and water scarcity at the basin level could be addressed by using the inter- and intra-basin approaches. The review concludes that a combination of the SWAT, multiple GCMs, and inter- and intra-basin approaches could be efficiently applied for assessing the water resources at a large basin scale. This review may be of benefit to scientists and water specialists.

Environmental protection is an important key to achieving sustainable development. Since humans depend on the environment in countless ways, preserving them contributes directly to the sustaining of people and human societies and hence, to social sustainability. The central question in this dissertation asks why the environmental protection policies enacted in Madagascar are not efficient and how they impact the SDG’s achievement at the national level. This paper discusses Madagascar’s achievements of the sustainable development target with special emphasis on environmental issues, which is currently a major concern in the country. This review aimed at suggesting improvements in line with the challenges the country is facing by reviewing the indicators provided by the UN SDGs. It also reaffirmed the nexus of poverty and the environment, which is important for setting the development target. In order to conduct this study, journal articles, review papers, working papers, research reports, and books related to environmental management and sustainable development in Madagascar were reviewed. Madagascar has made a little improvement in accomplishing SDGs 12 and 13 in 2021, but achieving all SDGs goals in 2030 remains a big challenge. The country is a party to numerous international environmental conventions, treaties, and agreements. Many policy changes have been implemented to address both conservation and development issues, but these efforts have had little impact. Forest fires and slash-and-burn were on the rise in Madagascar on October 2022, which poses a major concern for the economic and social development of the island. In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it. The strategies proposed in this paper might be helpful for the Malagasy government and private sector in decision-making. This paper is also useful for researchers in developing countries. As Madagascar did not reach the Millennium Development Goals 2015 and will not achieve the SDGs in 2030, should we not start learning from our mistakes and thinking about the post-SDGs?

Madagascar is among the ten countries most exposed to cyclonic disasters in the world due to its geographical position. The country faces serious problems directly related to tropical cyclones every year. This research aims to analyze the cyclones in Madagascar from 2000 to 2020 focusing on the impact of the cyclone based on human losses and costs. The findings showed that during the past 20 years, 39 significant cyclones have affected Madagascar. On an average, 02 cyclones per year hit the country but its frequency has been decreasing since 2014. Cyclone Eline, Gafilo and Ivan were considered the most dangerous and have caused serious damages to the country. The number of victims caused by the cyclone, Eline, in 2000 were numerous while the cyclone Ivan in 2008 led many people to homelessness. In addition, the cyclone Gafilo in 2004 was recorded as the deadliest, costliest and has provoked many injuries including missing people. The number of victims, homeless, injured, missing and the cost of damage increase depending on the intensity of the cyclone. The East, North-East, West and Southwest coasts are most often hit by cyclones. Despite the frequency and damage of cyclones in the country, the actions carried out to reduce or mitigate the impacts of cyclones are still not sustainable, which makes the populations more vulnerable.

River basins in Madagascar are prone to water scarcity and conflicts of use, which are projected to worsen due to climate change. Therefore, effective integrated water resources management (IWRM) is key. This review examines the current condition of IWRM in Madagascar, evaluates its sustainability, and compares it with the one in Japan. The effects of climate change were analyzed using Aqueduct data. Madagascar has established an IWRM legal framework aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals; however, its application remains limited. For Japan, it was useful to establish IWRM for floods, water utilization, and environmental conservation. This study analyzes the future projections of water availability and demand for the 12 major river basins of Madagascar. Climate change will reduce water availability; the West and the East will experience water stress; the demand will be higher in the highlands, with less water available in the south. The proposed framework and Japan’s experience in river basin management can contribute to solving those problems. The findings of this study serve to enhance the knowledge on IWRM and the impact of climate change in Madagascar; they also suggest actions to be taken by the Malagasy government.