While more than 80% of the country’s original forest cover has been lost, studies indicate that the rate of deforestation has declined from 0.82% during the 1990s to 0.55% between 2000 and 2005 and 0.4% between 2005 and 2010 (Convention on Biological Diversity). However, even the loss of one hectare of forest in Madgascar has a larger effect on biodiversity than forest loss anywhere else in the world due to its high rate of endemism. Today many animals and plants are threatened, such as rosewood trees, tortoises, chameleons, geckos and snakes, which are targeted by traffickers. The Ploughshare tortoise, for example, is found only in a small area of Madagascar where as few as a thousand of these animals survive. On the black market they can be sold for up to $200,000 as exotic pets. In addition, 2,300 plants are used for medicinal purposes in Madagscar, 90% of which have not been commercialized. These medicinal plants are a potential source of great income and scientific advancement, yet deforestation threatens their existence.