Through the funding of a Support Fund for Strengthening, FAPBM will be able to support the members of the Veromanga grassroots communities of the Mandrozo protected area (Western Madagascar, Melaky Region). On September 24, a terrible fire deprived 40 households of their homes. To provide economic support to these impoverished communities, the manager, The Peregrine Fund (TPF), has requested funding support from FAPBM.
Supporting communities, supporting the forest
Economic support was needed to prevent possible the possible unsustainable uses of the forest by the affectedpeople. The need was such that the fishermen affected by the disaster in Veromanga risked overrunning the fishingclosure period scheduled until November 15. TPF offered basic commodities to the population for their most urgent needs, thanks to the grants.
Part of the grants was thus devoted to the provision of building materials. As for timber, the manager will support the communities to obtain a logging permit from the Regional Direction of Environment and Sustainable Development (DREDD) in the forests outside the protected area.
Another part of the funding was used to support income-generating activities. Improved seeds (peanuts and maize) were provided to 20 farmers and poultry brood stock for 10 farmers. In addition, TPF will hire the victims to replant seedlings, so that they can get additional income.
In return, the families are expected to replant 100 feet of indigenous trees within the PA for the next reforestation campaign. This means that a total of 4,000 seedlings will be planted by all victims at the end of this project. TPF will be take charge of the nursery for these seedlings.
Additional security
To definitively seal any risk of recourse to the forest or unregulated fishing, the patrols in the protected area to strengthen the control and surveillance inside the protected area. 31 members of this local committee will organize to make three raids per week between October and December of this year, that is at least 30 raids between these periods. Gendarmes will come every two weeks to reinforce the planned patrols. One raid per month by ministerial authorities will be organized for the technical services.
The dense dry forest and Lake Mandrozo are the main conservation targets of the Mandrozo protected area. The lake constitutes a permanent water source target for agriculture and generates important income for the surrounding fishing communities. The forest prevents the lake from silting up.
