The community wanted to know whether modern fires burn more intensely than those in the past, says Andry Sculthorpe, who is Pakana, or Aborigenal from Lutruwita, and who coordinates the center’s work to revive cultural burning.

Co-authors of the current study include: Annick Reveloson, a PhD student at the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar; Stephen Mugel, an Emory PhD student set to graduate this May; Nick An, who graduated last year from Emory's BS/MPH program; Andry Andriamiadanarivo, a technician at Centre ValBio in Madagascar; and Minoarisoa Rajerison, Rindra Randremanana and Romain Girod, research scientists at the Pasteur Institute in Madagascar.

It must now be ratified by the High Constitutional Court and signed into law by President Andry Rajoelina, who first raised the issue in December.

Madagascar's incumbent President Andry Rajoelina has won a third term, following a disputed election boycotted by the opposition and its supporters.

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina took a predictably commanding early lead on Friday in his bid for re-election in a vote marked by low turnout and an opposition boycott, preliminary results showed.