Post at 25 July 2024

Antananarivo, 25 July 2024 – Madagascar Protected Areas and Biodiversity Fund (FAPBM), in partnership with the Varuna program financed by the French Development Agency and coordinated by Expertise France, the Institute of Research for Development (IRD) through the Varuna – Sciences of Sustainability project and REMAPSEN Madagascar (African Media Network for the Promotion of Health and the Environment – Madagascar), officially launched the second edition of the reporting competition called ” Media #ForProtectedAreas ” on 25th, July at a press conference held at the Hotel Colbert Antaninarenina. This FAPBM initiative aims to encourage and support journalists with a passion for biodiversity to produce original reports on local communities and experts involved in biodiversity conservation, as well as to highlight remote protected areas. Like the previous edition, this call for reporting projects highlights the crucial role of the media and journalists in raising public awareness and advocacy for biodiversity conservation.

Celebrating the commitment of new generations to Madagascar’s biodiversity

Proud of the success of the first edition, which highlighted the men and women who work tirelessly to preserve Madagascar’s protected areas and biodiversity, the second edition of the competition will focus on the theme of ‘Young Conservation Heroes’. This year, the organizers want to highlight the role of young people from communities in the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of protected areas in Madagascar. At the same time, the competition aims to highlight the importance of the contribution made by young local experts working in the field and the challenges they face. The main objective of the competition is to draw the attention of decision-makers to the impact that the involvement of these young people can have on the conservation of our natural heritage in the face of changing environmental issues.

A grant of MGA 3,500,000 to support journalists committed to Biodiversity

This fellowship is open to Malagasy and foreign journalists living in Madagascar. It is an opportunity for all to contribute to raising public awareness in Madagascar about biodiversity conservation issues, efforts made in protected areas, and the challenges and successes of local communities and young professionals.

Six (6) journalists with the highest scores in all categories will be selected by the jury members and will each receive a grant of MGA 3,500,000. The competition is nationwide, so journalists living in the provinces are encouraged to participate. Three criteria define the eligibility of each candidate: (i) to be a professional journalist with no age limit, (ii) to have a good command of the Malagasy and/or French language and, finally, (iii) not to have won the first edition of the reporting grant. The reports will be judged on the originality of the subject matter, the writing style and journalistic technique, the level of French or Malagasy, the clarity of the text and the quality of the pitch (hook, conciseness).

Strengthening environmental journalism in Madagascar: Training and quality at the heart of a shared mission

To help train journalists specializing in environment and biodiversity issues, the winners will receive training from the partners in addition to financial support. This initiative is designed to help journalists acquire the practical and technical knowledge they need to produce their reports. The organizers encourage the production of quality work that meets the standards of the profession, to demonstrate the expertise of Madagascan journalists. Journalists have until 18th, August 2024 to submit their projects. Details on how to submit a project can be found at the following link : www.fapbm.org/appel-doffres/.

About the partners

  1. About Madagascar Protected Areas 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 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 recognized for its expertise in protected area funding, transparency, good governance of funds, and the relevance and sustainability of its interventions. By 2024, 70 of Madagascar’s 123 protected areas will benefit from FAPBM funding. www.fapbm.org

Contact : Rindra MIARIVOLOLONA, Communication Officer, rmiarivololona@fapbm.org – 038 53 631 96

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  1. About the VARUNA program

The Varuna program, implemented by Expertise France (financed by AFD – Agence Française de Développement), aims to combat the erosion of biodiversity in the south-west Indian Ocean, a hotspot of global importance subject to multiple pressures, by mobilizing the whole of society.

The Varuna program is based on 3 areas of intervention: (i) structuring networks of regional actors to promote coordinated efforts to conserve biodiversity, (ii) supporting the integration of ecological transition issues among economic actors, (iii) promoting the contribution of research to the science-society dialogue on biodiversity. Each theme comprises two or three projects led by one or more partners active in the field. They all share a common objective: to put biodiversity conservation at the heart of our decision-making, for the benefit of all. www.varuna-biodiversite.org

Contact : Julie DELAIRE – Varuna program coordinator – julie.delaire@expertisefrance.fr – 032 46 561 13

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  1. About IRD’s Varuna_Science for Sustainability project

The IRD is a multidisciplinary French public research organisation, committed for 80 years to equitable partnerships with countries of the South and French overseas territories. As a player in the international development agenda, its priorities are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Together, the Institute’s scientists and partners propose concrete solutions to the global challenges facing society and the planet. This win-win relationship makes science and innovation key levers for development. The IRD has been present in Madagascar since 1947 and is co-located with the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle. (MNHN). http://madagascar.ird.fr/

IRD’s Varuna Science for Sustainability project aims to strengthen the dialogue between science and society, in line with the strategic priority of the Varuna programme: ‘Encouraging research to contribute to the dialogue between science and society on biodiversity’.

To achieve this goal, four science and society dialogue mechanisms have been set up: the Biodiversity Travelling Exhibition; the production of digital educational resources; the production of eParticipatory Observers Project (ePOP) video capsules by young people documenting the impact of biodiversity erosion; and exchange and capacity building workshops for decision-makers, media and researchers.

Contact : Marina Ramanandraibe – marina.ramanadraibe@ird.fr – 032 05 544 66

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  1. About REMAPSEN Madagascar

Created on 13 June 2020 in Côte d’Ivoire, REMAPSEN is an African organisation that brings together media partners of health and environment programmes in the field of communication. The network will be operational in Madagascar from November 2021. REMAPSEN Mada brings together around twenty journalists working in the field of health and environment. Its mission is to mobilise the Malagasy media to ensure effective communication to encourage the population to reduce harm and adopt behaviour conducive to good health and environmental practices. https://www.remapsen.org

Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/Remapsenmada

Contact :