We investigated whether there is a trade-off between conservation and development in the vicinity of Madagascar’s largest national park (Andasibe-Mantadia). The debate on this topic in Madagascar and other countries has focused on polarized questions protecting nature and forest resources or facilitating people’s rights to exploit forest resources. The prevailing view is that both objectives cannot be achieved simultaneously and that a trade-off is inevitable. The key criterion used to select the four sites for this study was the distance from the entrance to the national park. Our survey data findings indicated that there was no correlation between restrictions on forest use and income or well-being. The villagers enjoy both direct and indirect benefits from the national park, namely the provision of jobs, electricity, water offered by the national park or by private tour operators. The national park and luxury hotels have replaced the state as service providers.