Tavy

The word tavy stands for the slash and burn agriculture practised in Madagascar. Tavy literally means "the fields so cultivated".

Large fire in Ankarafantsika National Park

Tavy is a traditional Malagasy farming method to clear forest for farming land. Unfortunately, the additionally gained land can be cultivated only for a limited time and the farmers are forced to clear more land. However, where no trees are left, rain cannot sink into the earth. The consequence is erosion, washing the red earth into the rivers and making them "bleed". Although it is raining, the land will slowly dry out.

Madagascar has a very rich fauna and flora and many species are endemic, meaning they live and grow only on this island. Due to slash and burn, more and more forests disappear and therefore many species face extinction.

A Malagasy proverb says Tsy misy ala, tsy misy rano, tsy misy vary. - without the foresr, there will be no more water, without water, there will be no more rice.

Burned fields en-route Mahajanga

Razia Said, a Malagasy singer and songwriter, brings the subject of "tavy" and its consequences into her music and to the ears of the world. Income from the selling of her album Zebu Nation is partly used for reforesting programs in Madagascar, especially in the Masoala region.

Slash and Burn, by Razia Said One day in May it was a beautiful day I felt so alone when the sky opened up and changed to charcoal grey One day in May just like any day it chilled in my bones when I heard you say that the hills have burned away Slash and burn slash and burn nowhere left to hide On the mountain side still the children play things feel the same way but something is gone it's all gone up in smoke This is our day and this is our land not just to abuse let's not give up and say Slash and burn slash and burn a slow death in disguise Down on my knees tears in my voice where are the trees watch the rivers bleed listen to them cry Don't we have a choice Slash and burn it wasn't meant to be Who could have said what have we done this is our day and this is our land what will tomorrow say this is our place and this our time this our land and this is our home this is our day what will tomorrow say slash and burn slash and burn this is our way Don't we have a choice slash and burn Think of the universe think of the world think of your people think of ourselves think of our children think of the generations to come Don't we have a choice