Only 44% of the dry forest in Menabe Antimena remains (South Western part of Madagascar), a victim of illicit maize and groundnut cultivation by migrants, who are themselves at the mercy of economic insecurity. The COVID-19 health crisis – exacerbating the communities’ vulnerability – has aggravated fires and clearing. In late 2021, FAPBM joined the stakeholders in responding favourably to a request for special intervention funds from Fanamby, which is working on a plot of land in the protected area. The urgency was to deal with the fire period, usually from November to January.
Thanks to this financing, Fanamby has strengthened the patrols of the protected area’s core areas in collaboration with the collaboration of Regional Direction of Environment and Sustainable Devlopment-DREDD (seizure of illegal products, chase of offenders, support of authorities and partners for arrests, coordination with fire agents and stakeholders for fire extinction). FAPBM’s financial contribution of MGA 37,000,000 covered the human and material resources needed for this patrol.
This financing is similar to that granted in 2018, as a result of the exponential increase in fires related to a strong increase in population and insecurity in the area. It is a prelude to annual grants, which will be effective as from May 2022. FAPBM hopes that this additional financing will contribute in a sustainable way to stop damages caused to the protected area and reinforce restoration efforts.
Menabe Antimena is among, if not the most threatened protected area in Madagascar. Yet it plays an important role in an arid southern region. Indeed, the dry forest that covers it maintains the soil thanks to the roots, and preserves the water table. The local communities and the large surrounding towns such as Morondava and Mahabo benefit from this natural water reservoir. Dear citizens, public and especially private sector, let us do our part to preserve this natural heritage before it is too late!
