Emnati then Batsiraï, in less than 2 weeks (10 and 22 February), two cyclones hit the south-east of Madagascar where two FAPBM-granted protected areas are located: Agnalazaha, managed by MBG and Manombo, managed by MNP. Serge Ratsirahonana, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, and Evah Ralalarisoa, Internal Control Officer of FAPBM, paid a visit on site in late February and early March for an audit and monitoring and evaluation mission. It was clear that both protected areas were heavily impacted by cyclones.
With regard to biodiversity, those tropical cyclones have severely depleted forests of their foliage. This scarcity of leaves in their usual territories would have forced arboreal and folivorous fauna species, particularly lemurs, to change territory and/or travel greater distances to feed. In addition, in the restoration areas, more than 85% of the seedlings planted last year (Q3 2021) were uprooted. Seedlings from previous years were more or less resistant to strong winds and heavy rains. However, a loss of 20% was noted in Agnalazaha.
As far as communities are concerned, successive cyclones have devastated all homes along the coast. Inevitably, local demand for wood will increase for the reconstruction of homes and other infrastructure (schools, etc.).
With regard to the management of the protected area, the consequences of cyclones are beginning to be felt by the managers of these protected areas. Patrols and ecological monitoring are complicated by cut-offs in feeder routes due to rising water levels and falling trees, while pressures on PA natural resources are likely to increase. In addition, some employees of local management units are not available for family reasons. Moreover, the plants nurseries are empty at the beginning of the year for emergency restorations.
The protected areas of Agnalazaha and Manombo are one of the last coastal forests in this part of the island. These guarantee the stabilization of the soil, which is very fragile and unstable in this region. They also retain water from rivers, for the populations along the riverside and the crop fields, before it flows into the ocean.
Faced with such emergency situations, – FAPBM recommends the use of the Special Intervention Fund (FIS) which gives protected areas the possibility to undertake additional necessary actions which are not provided for in the annual work plan (AWP).
