SUMMARY

Madagascar is facing severe environmental problems. One approach to engage possible future stakeholders and to raise awareness for environmental concerns is the Roots & Shoots program. On the following the program and its philosophy are presented. MADAGASCAR – THE DEMOGRAPHIC SITUATION Madagascar has a current population of about 18 million people living across the more than 587,000 km2 big islands. Madagascar is among the top ten countries in the world concerning birth rate (> 3%, world average: 1.15%). More than 8 million Malagasy are under 15 years old. Thus, a bit less than 50 % of the whole population are children. In the meantime, the environment on this island is facing fast changes it cannot cope with. Those comprise soil erosion resulting from deforestation and overgrazing through cattle, desertification, contamination of surface water with raw sewage and other organic wastes. Hence, the living conditions for a majority of the Malagasy population is changing to the worse and surviving has become a daily challenge. The future for millions of people is not at all bright. Always the weakest in a community are the first to suffer negative impacts of environmental changes: children and old people. THE ROOTS & SHOOTS PROGRA