Antananarivo, 04 Septembre 2023 — BNI MADAGASCAR and Madagascar Protected Areas and Biodiversity Fund (FAPBM) are proud to announce the signing of a financing agreement for a forest restoration project at the Maromizaha protected area (Alaotra Mangoro region), managed by the Groupe d’Etudes et de Recherches sur les Primates (GERP). The funding will cover the maintenance of 62 hectares of restored degraded areas, requiring the planting of 45,000 seedlings, mainly native species, over a one-year period. As a sustainable funding mechanism for Madagascar’s protected areas, FAPBM will play a key role in managing the fund and monitoring its impact, while GERP will implement the technical activities.
Maromizaha: an example of good forest management
Located in eastern Madagascar, the Maromizaha Protected Area is home to a dense moistering managed by GERP. This forest provides essential ecosystem services to local communities, such as drinking water and surrounding crops field irrigation. It also provides essential support for the communities’ beekeeping activities and is home to a variety of medicinal plants, the collection of which generates additional income for the same communities.
With the support of FAPBM, GERP experts, in collaboration with local communities, have drastically reduced the number of fires and the area burned in the Maromizaha forest, formerly a victim of tavy (slash-and-burn agriculture), to almost zero between 2019 and 2022. Local communities have switched to more sustainable practices and are working to develop the forest as a key ecotourism site along the RN2. In partnership with the manager, they are capitalising on the proximity of the Mantadia and Analamazaotra parks, investing in infrastructure and guiding techniques training to attract tourists.
Essential cooperation for restoration and conservation
The support of BNI MADAGASCAR reinforces the efforts already made by local communities and GERP, with the support of FAPBM, to conserve the forest ecosystem. “This initiative is fully in line with BNI Madagascar’s strategy to improve its environmental and social impact. The Bank recognises the critical importance of combating climate change, protecting protected areas and biodiversity, and restoring and promoting endemic and indigenous species. To maximise the impact of our financing, we are counting on the combined expertise of FAPBM and GERP,” said Alexandre Mey, General Manager of BNI MADAGASCAR. This new collaboration will fund activities such as seedling production in nurseries, training and capacity building for local stakeholders, and maintenance of restored areas.
For its part, FAPBM congratulates BNI Madagascar on its pioneering voluntary approach to funding protected areas on the island. “The strategy for protecting Madagascar’s biodiversity, forests and other natural habitats, which are home to exceptional endemic biodiversity, is based on a network of 123 protected areas covering more than 7 million hectares (around 10% of the national territory), with an average annual budget of between USD 42 and 70 million. Although these protected areas are supported by numerous organisations, including FAPBM, there is a funding gap. This funding gap is one of the main causes of the progressive loss of biodiversity in Madagascar, which threatens ecological balance, food security, community and household economies and, by extension, social security. To fill this gap, FAPBM aims to develop an innovative financing mechanism by involving the private sector, whose economic activities are largely dependent on the surrounding natural resources,” says Mr Bruno Rajaspera, Chairman of the FAPBM Board of Trustees.
“This approach is in line with the interests of local communities and aims to achieve a sustainable impact through public participation and regular monitoring of the actions undertaken. It will support the creation and maintenance of jobs and, indirectly, income-generating activities dependent on natural resources. I strongly encourage the relocation of social and environmental activities around protected areas,” says Professor Jonah Ratsimbazafy, Executive Director of GERP.
About BNI MADAGASCAR
BNI MADAGASCAR is the leading local bank in Madagascar, with 112 branches in the 23 regions of the country. With 1,000 employees, BNI Madagascar plays an active role in financial inclusion and the socio-economic revitalisation of the country by being the leading financial partner for Malagasy businesses and households.
Convinced that economic performance is inextricably linked to respect for the environment and the social concerns of its stakeholders, the company is building an environmental and social management system that is fully integrated into its strategy of being an innovative, responsible and socially aware player, promoting inclusive and sustainable development based on four values: Commitment, Professionalism, Team Spirit and Integrity.
About Madagascar Protected Area and Biodiversity Fund – FAPBM
Created in 2005, FAPBM is a private Malagasy trust fund dedicated to the conservation of Madagascar’s biodiversity. Its mission is to contribute to the sustainable financing of the Madagascar Protected Areas System (SAPM), to contribute to the biodiversity conservation, to the maintenance of ecosystem services, to the well-being of the population, to the fight against climate change and to promote good management within SAPM. Each investment in FAPBM’s capital generates perpetual annual income, dedicated primarily to the operations and conservation and community development activities in protected areas. FAPBM is internationally recognised for its expertise in protected area funding, transparency, good governance of funds, and the relevance and sustainability of its interventions. 64 of Madagascar’s 123 protected areas benefit from FAPBM funding.
About the Groupe d’Etudes et de Recherches sur les Primates – GERP
GERP was created in 1994 thanks to the courageous initiative of Professor Rakotosamimanana Berthe. A lecturer and researcher at the University of Antananarivo, fascinated by the beauty of lemurs, she gathered her scientific research colleagues and together they founded GERP. Aware of the threat of extinction facing these unique creatures, they set out to reduce the threats to lemurs and their habitats in order to increase their population. To achieve this goal, GERP has established itself in various locations, including Makira and now Maromizaha, Efatsy Manombo and Mahadrodroka. Through applied scientific research, conservation and development projects have been undertaken. In addition, GERP is committed to improving the living standards of local people by setting up Income Generating Activities (IGA) to make them financially independent. Finally, GERP strives to raise public awareness through advocacy, both nationally and internationally, because conservation concerns each and every one of us.
Media Contacts :
For BNI MADAGASCAR
Ndrina RALAIMANISA
Corporate Communications and Public Relations Director
+26134860542
For FAPBM
Roda OPERMAN
Communication and Advocacy Officer
+261340216501
For GERP
Rico Valiha ANDRIANIRINA
Communication Officer
+261343610170
