African environment discussed at Madagascar forum

Researchers will discuss Africa's environment next week during the international conference "Defying Nature's End: The African Context," at the Madagascar capital Antananarivo.

Topics will include debt relief for conservation, promoting ecotourism, renewable energy and protecting biodiversity.

Despite its biological and mineral wealth, Africa remains economically poor.

Africa also suffers from recurrent famines, and African leaders have called for a "green revolution" with objectives that include reducing soil depletion, halting desertification and increasing crop yields.