The poor trade results (some ebony and little more was obtained) hardly justified the difficulties of the settlers, who suffered from tropical illnesses and other problems.

One Governor of this colony, Étienne de Flacourt, published the History of the Great Isle of Madagascar and Relations,[3] which was the main source of information on the island for Europeans until the late 19th century.

[citation needed] Since the early 1970s, Fort Dauphin suffered an economic decline due to lack of good road connections to the rest of the country, rendering its port of local importance only.

[10] The Mandena ilmenite mine near Fort-Dauphin was opened by QIT Madagascar Minerals[11] in 1986 prompting a boost in employment, migration to the area, development of roads and exacerbation of deforestation.

[citation needed] The mine contaminated Lake Besaroy in 2014-2015[14] and has been met with mixed reactions from local communities, who held protests in 2013[15] and 2022.

[citation needed] Fort-Dauphin was initially situated on a short, narrow peninsula on the extreme southeastern coast of Madagascar, but has since grown to cover a much greater area along the ocean, almost to Mount Bezavona.

Their research focused on the wild collection of periwinkle roots and leaves from roadsides and fields and its industrial cultivation on large farms.