A hectare of forest lost in Madagascar has a greater negative impact on global biodiversity than a hectare of forest lost virtually anywhere else on earth (U.S. Forest Service). Concerted efforts to save Madagascar’s natural forests began in the mid 1980s when Madagascar and its partners began preparing the irst Madagascar National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP). The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) opened its Madagascar Mission in 1984 and rapidly became one of the principal actors in developing and implementing the three successive Environmental Programs (EPs).Twenty-five years later, this paper takes a step back to look at challenges encountered, actions implemented, lessons learned, and progress made towards conservation and development goals. This retrospective is being written in the midst of the third political crisis since the USAID Mission opened (the fourth since Madagascar gained independence).