Leading conservation scientists from Madagascar, Australia, Finland, the U.K. and the U.S. have written an important letter published recently in the scientific journal Science to urge the newly elected president of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, to stop wildlife crime and natural forest clearing. The declining rule of law is threatening to cause the extinction of endemic faunal and floral species and is hampering the development opportunities of the 25 million people inhabiting Madagascar.