Month: March 2022

16 of the 21 wetlands (2,147,911 ha) listed on the RAMSAR site are housed in protected areas and thus benefit from conservation activities. 7 of them are part of FAPBM grantees. Other wetlands do not benefit from this protection nor even listed as RAMSAR. In this cyclone season, the celebration of Wetlands Day on 2 February is a stark reminder of the need to provide the means to preserve these areas. Lakes, ponds, peat bogs, watersheds, swamp forests, mangroves, etc. are all wetlands. As such, they house biodiversity, provide water (for livestock, agriculture, electricity, food, etc.) and are buffer zones in case of flooding. The national theme of the 2022 celebration also denounces human activities that cause wetlands loss: “Acting for wetlands means acting for nature and humanity. Do not fill in with soil to guarantee access to water for all, do not destroy to maintain life”. FAPBM supported the …

The Directorate of Protected Areas, Renewable Natural Resources and Ecosystems (DAPRNE) has invited its close partners to its annual reforestation. On 11 February 2022, teams from FAPBM led by the Executive Director, Alain Liva Raharijaona, joined the DAPRNE and its partners (among which MNP, Group of Madagascar’s fauna and flora exporters) for this civic duty. Nearly 2,000 plants were planted in the Manankazo forestry station (north of the capital Antananarivo) by the participants. Among the species planted were acacia, tavolo, harongana, afotra, mongy hasina, fanala sopatra, mokaranana, handrarezina. Young plants evolution will be monitored and maintained by the local team of the MEDD. This physical participation – coupled with financial support – is in line with the long-standing collaboration between FAPBM and the MEDD within the framework of improving protected areas management. Most recently, the Director of DAPRNE has joined the Financing Committee of FAPBM’s Board of Trustees. Among other …

At the forefront of protected areas conservation and protection, local communities participate in patrols, restoration activities and are even co-managers of protected areas. More than that, they are taking steps to become less dependent on natural resources. Together, let’s discover these start-ups, whose efforts deserve to be supported. During the month of February, in collaboration with protected areas managers, FAPBM conducted a digital campaign to publicise communities’ achievements. To this end, internet users were encouraged to share publications about these achievements. Some important figures joined the campaign voluntarily, namely: igersmadagascar, Jay L’Exploratrice, Baonjava Monika, Marie Christina Kolo, Mbolatiana Raveloarimisa. We warmly thank the managers who offered the gifts. If you too would like to support the protected areas and their communities in any way, or buy their products, please contact the managers directly: –           Apiculture of Agnalazaha: Fidy Ratovoson fidy.ratovoson@mobot.mg –           Apiculture of Beanka: Radosoa Andrianaivoarivelo aniainodna@yahoo.fr –    …

The DIANA region, in the Northern part of Madagascar, has 19 protected areas, 9 of which are financed by FAPBM. With the exception of the protected areas of COMATSA North and South, these protected areas cover more than 800,000 ha. Although they only occupy 40% of the region, each of them provides invaluable services to the region’s populations (889,962 inhabitants in 2018). For example, the Ambodivahibe and Ankivonjy protected areas sustainably manage fisheries resources for the benefit of local fishermen, the Montagne d’Ambre protected area supplies the JIRAMA water reservoirs for the town of Diégo and the water supply of 13 rural communes around the park, and Nosy Tanikely attracts nearly 50,000 tourists per year (before the pandemic). The pressures and threats faced by these protected areas therefore endanger the lives of the region’s inhabitants. Faced with diverging interests in conservation, the DIANA protected areas platform is making the voices …