Antananarivo, September 29, 2023 – The Association of Journalists for the Environment (AJE), Madagascar Protected Areas and Biodiversity Fund (FAPBM) and VARUNA project are proud to announce the winners of the Media #ForProtectedAreas call for reporting projects. The organizers would like to thank all participants for their interest, as well as the partners and jury for their support.
An advocacy for protected areas
The biodiversity reporting grant aims to (i) increase the visibility of protected areas in the malagasy and international media ; (ii) shed light on critical remote sites by enabling local journalists to access them ; (iii) support advocacy efforts towards decision-makers on the importance of biodiversity for communities.
After a rigorous selection process, the jury selected the winning reporting projects in the three established categories: print, radio and audiovisual. The selection was based on the following criteria : originality of the subject relevant to the topic, writing style and journalistic technique, language level (French or Malagasy), clarity of the text and quality of the pitch (catchiness and conciseness). The jury for this first edition was made up of Blanche Gomez, VARUNA Program Coordinator; Lova Rabary, editor-in-chief of 2424. mg; Luciano Razafimahefa, Director of Communications and Information Systems at the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD); Roda Operman, Communications and Advocacy Officer at FAPBM; Monica Rasoloarison, Advisor to the Board of the Association of Journalists for the Environment (AJE) and current President of the OJM (Order of Madagascar Journalists).
Journalists committed to biodiversity
The jury and organizers congratulate the winners of this first edition:
Print press category:
- RAKOTOMIARINTSOA Nirina Lalao Claude with the story entitled “The positive impact of the management of the Bemanevika Protected Area – Sofia Region” ;
- ANDRIANTEFIARINESY Andrianjaka with the story “Maromizaha: Preserving Nature, Transforming Mentalities” ;
Radio press category:
- MANANJANAHARY Randriamihaja Clovice with the story entitled “Marotandrano Special Reserve and social life” ;
- SOLONIRINA HAINGOMALALA Nathali with the story entitled “The importance of protecting marine protected areas, the case of Nosy Tanikely ” ;
Audiovisual press category:
- SOAVINDRAZANA Sindrota Anicet with the story entitled “Co-management” ;
- VELOMANANA Jean Claude with the story entitled “Retraining former forestry offenders”.
At the end of the competition, the winners will each receive a reporting MGA 3,000,000 grant to carry out their project.
This first edition demonstrated journalists’ interest in biodiversity and protected areas. The call for projects received 14 applications from various regions of Madagascar, all wishing to highlight exceptional protected areas : Andrafiamena Andavakoera, Antrema, Bemanevika, Isalo, Lac Alaotra, Mantadia, Maromizaha, Marotandrano, Menabe Antimena, Nosy Tanikely, Nosy Ve and Tsimanampetsotse.
About the Association of Journalists for the Environment – AJE
AJE was founded in 2014 with the aim of promoting environmental education for all citizens. In order to achieve this, AJE’s activities include, but are not limited to, reporting and disseminating productions through the media, supporting various organisations and institutions, organising formal activities (meetings, trainings, seminars) and/or informal activities (artistic activities, etc.) related to environmental education, creating and disseminating IEC (information, education, communication) materials).
Since 2009, the association is also a member of the Alliance Voahary Gasy Civil Society Platform, which consists of 30 associations, and sits on the Board of Directors.
https://ojm.mg/association-des-journalistes/
About the Varuna Biodiversity
Varuna program, implemented by Expertise France and funded by AFD – Agence Française de Développement, aims to curb biodiversity erosion in the South-Western Indian Ocean, a global hotspot subject to numerous pressures.
Varuna program is based on three intervention axes: (i) Structuring regional actor networks to encourage coordinated efforts for biodiversity conservation, (ii) Supporting the integration of ecological transition issues among economic actors, (iii) Encouraging the contribution of research to the Science-Society dialogue on biodiversity. Each axis includes two to three projects led by one or more partners active in the region. They all share a common goal: to work together for the preservation of biodiversity for the benefit of the region’s inhabitants. www.varuna-biodiversite.org
About the Madagascar Protected Areas and Biodiversity Fund – FAPBM
Created in 2005, FAPBM is a private Malagasy trust fund recognized of public-interest 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 sound management within SAPM. Each investment in FAPBM’s capital generates perpetual annual revenues, dedicated primarily to the operations, 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.
