The Ecological Apparency Hypothesis (EAH) posits that plant species that are more abundant, larger, and thus more conspicuous are more frequently used and for a greater variety of purposes. Although widely cited, empirical tests of the EAH remain geographically biased toward South America and Southeast Asia, with few studies integrating conservation perspectives. To address this gap, we examined the relationship between ecological apparency, usefulness, and global extinction risk in the tropical dry forests of northwestern Madagascar. Using a 15-ha forest census (158 woody species, 39,084 stems) and ethnobotanical interviews with 20 knowledgeable residents (3,689 use reports), we quantified Use Value (VU), Versatility Index (VI), Importance Value Index (IVI), Maximum Stem Diameter (Dmax), incorporating IUCN Red List and CITES scores as extinction risk indicators for each species. In this forest, 98.7% of species were found to be useful to local communities. Principal component and correlation analyses revealed two contrasting strategies of plant utilization consistent with optimal foraging theory. For generalist uses requiring high woody biomass, such as Tools and Construction, VUs were positively correlated with IVI and Dmax, supporting the EAH. Moreover, the usefulness of these categories was positively associated with Red List scores. In contrast, specialist uses such as Medicine, Food, and Social Services involved the selection of species for specific intrinsic properties, independent of ecological apparency. Despite their relatively low global extinction risk, pharmacologically important species (Cinnamosma fragrans, Cedrelopsis grevei) exhibited exceptionally high utility values, raising concerns about exploitative commercial use. When resource depletion becomes an issue, generalist strategies typically involve switching to alternative resources, whereas specialist strategies require focused monitoring and regeneration efforts. Demonstrating the applicability of EAH in Madagascar, a region with distinct biological and cultural characteristics, contributes to establishing a universal theoretical framework in ethnobotany that bridges ecological theory with practical considerations for sustainable resource management.