In the 1990s, charcoal production and fuelwood harvesting in Madagascar intensified degradation of spiny and dry deciduous forests, driven by local energy needs. Combined with agricultural expansion, this threatened unique biodiversity. These pressures highlight sustainability challenges, inspiring environmental awareness and poetry focused on habitat loss and conservation.

The charcoal production in Madagascar's dry forests during the 1990s was featured in Malagasy poetry, where poets expressed the loss of ancestral forests. Their works emphasized the cultural and ecological significance of these landscapes, calling for conservation efforts.