Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island with a total surface area of approximately 590,000 km² and a long coastline of 5603 km. It is divided into 22 regions, 13 of which are coastal. The island is influenced by the 3 major currents:  the East Malagasy Current, the South Equatorial Current and Mozambique channel eddies.

In 2018, the population was estimated at 26 million people[1].

In Madagascar, the management of coastal plant resources is the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

Madagascar has appointed a Focal Point to the Nairobi Convention to help coordinate efforts to protect, manage, and use the Western Indian Ocean at the national level.

[1] United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2019 Revision

• United Nations Environment Programme – Nairobi Convention 2015. Status of Birds in the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Nairobi Convention Area: Regional Synthesis Report
• United Nations Environment Programme – Nairobi Convention 2016. Climate Strategy for the Nairobi Convention
• ASCLME 2012. National Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis. Madagascar. Contribution to the Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems Project (supported by UNDP with GEF grant financing)
• ASCLME 2012. Madagascar National Level Policy and Governance Assessment for Marine and Coastal Resources. Contribution to the Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems Project (supported by UNDP with GEF grant financing)
• United Nations Environment Programme and Secretariat of Nairobi Convention (2009). The Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the Protection of the Western Indian Ocean from Land-based Sources and Activities. Nairobi, Kenya, 140 pp.
• United Nations Environment Programme – Nairobi Convention Secretariat, 2019. Marine Protected Areas Outlook