The company Mainland ruins the Eastern Coastline of Madagascar

Established in the Atsinanana Region of Madagascar, Mainland Group is a company that exploits ilmenite. Unfortunately, the company’s exploitation activities have harmful effects on the environment and the protected natural parks surrounding the company’s site. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the degradation of the Eastern coastline of Madagascar is the worst effect of that exploitation of ilmenite made by Mainland Group.

The Eastern coastline, going from Ampasimbe until Soanieran Ivongo, is now severely damaged due to the drilling activity of the exploitation. In addition to that, the health of the surrounding population is also endangered because of the spreading of chemical products used by the company. In current times, Mainland Group is conducting exploration projects in the Pangalanes Canal, an activity that can ruin the strip of sand which is the borderline between the river and the sea. The project will have a negative impact on the economy of the region since many villagers use the Pangalanes Canal as a main circuit for transporting their local products. But at the same time, tourist sites as well as preserved natural resources will also be damaged due to the company’s activities.