Nature is under threat, but we can all take action to help protect it. Madagascar has identified a list of 123 critical areas where biodiversity have to be protected. Conservation experts collaborate with government agents and local communities to preserve the ecosystem services these areas provide, benefiting both local and global populations.
When we act for nature, we also act for people. Human activities are the cause of global biodiversity loss and nature degradation, but we can act to reverse this trend. On Biodiversity Day 2022, the teams at UN Biodiversity published a list of 22 actions in favor of biodiversity, aligned with the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. FAPBM has adapted these actions for the context of Madagascar. It recognizes that these actions are not exhaustive, and some may not be feasible in certain regions or communities.
Maintain and Preserve Important Biodiversity Areas, Especially Protected Areas
- Restore an area, near or far :
From a distance: Participate in a restoration project by donating or volunteering your time online. These projects can take place in your locality or in another region.
In person: Contribute to nature preservation by restoring an abandoned or poorly maintained area through tree planting, shrubs or other native plant species planting. Create wildlife habitats around your home, school, workplace, etc.
Preferably select areas near or within protected areas to benefit from monitoring by protected area managers.
- Plant trees, shrubs, and plants (native species):
This action is one of many to counter the effects of invasive alien species.
From a distance: Support NGOs or projects involved in eradicating invasive species through online volunteering or financial contributions.
In person: Increase habitat and food sources for local wildlife by planting native trees, shrubs, and pollinator-friendly plants.
Do not release pets into the wild (and avoid buying native animals).
Expert level: Learn about invasive species in your region and find ways to eradicate them.
- Help animals, big and small:
From afar: Support wildlife shelters, rehabilitation centers, or protected areas by donating your time, expertise, or financial support.
In person: If you encounter a distressed animal or witness wildlife trafficking, report it to the appropriate authorities. You can also assist stranded animals, from stranded whales to worms on the sidewalk.
- Create biodiversity-friendly spaces:
Strengthen your connection to biodiversity by creating biodiversity-friendly spaces around you. This could include planting potted plants on your windowsill, planting shrubs, building birdhouses, bee hives, bat houses, or insect “hotels”, digging a pond, etc. (countless ideas can be found online).
- Prevent spread of zoonotic diseases:
Ensure clean water sources around you and proper waste management to prevent environmental contamination.
Avoid encroaching on biodiversity-rich areas and wild places.
Wash your hands after contact with animals.
- Change a habit that harms biodiversity:
Do you use single-use items? Do you litter non-biodegradable items such as cigarette butts on the ground? Do you use herbicides/pesticides? Do you eat a lot of “processed” meat? Do you buy the latest technology gadgets when your current ones still work? We all have at least one habit that is harmful to biodiversity.
Expert level: Vote for leaders who care about the environment or consider running for office as a guardian of nature and humanity!
- Save energy:
Turn off lights and appliances when not in use. Also, reduce the use of fossil fuels (e.g., charcoal) and consider reducing meat consumption, especially from industrial farming.
Expert level: Equip your home/office with renewable energy sources.
- Minimise waste production (think about the waste generated to create your product).
Reduce unnecessary consumption, reuse what you can (or donate it), and recycle/compost products to minimize waste. Consider the waste generated during the production of goods, including their carbon footprint.
Grow your own food. Many crops and herbs are easy to grow, saving money and reducing your carbon footprint.
Cook with local crops and varieties. Try new recipes with local fruits, vegetables, and old grains that are often overlooked but have nutritional value and other qualities.
Expert level: If you are a business, producer, or supplier, informing your customers about more environmentally friendly alternatives is part of nature protection.
- Clean up an area around you:
From a distance: Support organisations involved in clean up initiatives through donations or online volunteering. If you have engineering skills or are just creative and resourceful, consider building a robot or app that can help clean the environment.
In person: Clean up your neighborhood, park, forest, beach, riverbanks, or even just your street (to prevent plastics and waste from drifting into rivers or being consumed by animals). Make your environment pleasant to live. Bonus points: Identify biodiversity hotspots nearby and take extra measures to protect them. Involve your community in the protection of these hotspots.
Support local communities neighbouring protected areas
- Share:
The economic vulnerability of local communities near protected areas sometimes leads to irrational exploitation of natural resources. Share with others, especially those who have less. Not only will your possessions be reused, but they will help those most in need.
From afar: Donate money or goods to local communities associations and NGOs working with local community-based organizations around protected areas.
- Buy products from local community associations neighbouring protected areas:
Local communities near protected areas engage in income-generating activities and value chains to reduce dependence on protected natural resources. They produce a variety of products, such as salt, honey, eco-tourism services, fishing, rice cultivation, etc., which are available to responsible consumers.
Alternatively, prioritize products/foods that:
- Are produced (locally) without harming the environment and human health,
- Use minimal or no packaging and fewer chemicals or processing. These products are also healthier for you,
- Can be composted, recycled, or reused.
- Empowering local communities:
Early and active engagement of local communities in the management of protected areas through good governance is essential. Work with local community associations to develop their financial and entrepreneurial skills.
- Give communities visibility :
Share the stories of protected area defenders, including whistleblowers, women rangers, and restoration managers.
- Support ethically responsible businesses:
Learn about the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing and support businesses committed to ethical standards such as the Ethical BioTrade Standard or the FairWild Standard, particularly those that respect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
- Support biodiversity-friendly companies
Put your money where your convictions are. Invest in biodiversity-friendly companies and divest from those that harm nature (and let them know). Research the origin of raw materials used. Here are some links to get you started: Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity, Act4Nature, Nat-Cap Network, etc.
Support small local farms and their efforts to preserve biodiversity. Purchase seasonal products from organic producers’ markets in your region.
- Encourage responsible sourcing by businesses:
If you like buying products or services from a particular company or brand but want to make sure they are not harming the environment, inquire about their environmental impact or ask them to ensure their practices are environmentally friendly.
Expert level: If you are a company, get involved in the Global Business and Biodiversity Partnership, the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, or other similar initiatives.
Familiarise yourself with certification systems applicable in your country for food and other products. You can also explore other environmental certification systems. If none exists, learn about the production methods and origins of your daily food and products, considering their impact on biodiversity.
If there is no biodiversity certification scheme in your country, consider setting one up! This will not only help nature but also create local jobs.
Advocate for protected areas and/or fund protected areas
- Support local experts working in and around protected areas:
From a distance or in person, support NGOs and other organisations involved in environmental preservation/restoration or helping people through donations, volunteering, and participating in their activities.
- Visit Madagascar’s protected areas:
Take a break and enjoy a national park or special reserve. Madagascar has a network of 123 protected areas, including community and private reserves. All these activities contribute to nature protection.
- Take photos during your visits (not samples) and share them:
When in nature, focus on capturing photos of biodiversity and the people protecting it. Share their stories and spread positive messages. Avoid disturbing or damaging nature and refrain from collecting samples.
- Vote for protected areas:
During elections, choose programs that prioritise biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Advocate in decision-making processes for political and financial support for protected areas.
Stay informed about political measures regarding biodiversity and protected areas, analyze the situation, and express your opinion.
- Learn about the ecosystem services of biodiversity:
Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from nature; these are categorized into three types. Provisioning services are the products provided by nature, such as drinking water, food, fuel, timber, or medicines. Regulating services are the benefits of ecosystems, including climate regulation, flood mitigation, erosion prevention, coastal protection against cyclones, pollination in agriculture, or disease reduction.
- Raise awareness about biodiversity:
Get to know nature and biodiversity-friendly practices, and share your knowledge with family, friends, neighbors, and your community. Help them fall in love with nature!
Expert level: Promote biodiversity-friendly behaviors by recognizing that different people have different values, requiring different approaches to reach different audiences.
- Celebrate Biodiversity Day:
May 22 is Biodiversity Day! Take part in your country celebrations or organize activities to engage others. Everyone can organise activities!
