Context
Madagascar is known for its biological diversity, which is unique worldwide. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has classified the country as ‘fragile’, as increasing demand for food and wood fuel, combined with stagnating productivity in the area of forestry and pasture farming, is leading to dwindling natural resources. The environmentally harmful production of charcoal and the widespread practice of uncontrolled bushfires are exacerbating the situation. This is resulting in the loss of important ecosystem services and the country’s unique biodiversity. The institutional framework, technical expertise and the performance of public services and users are not sufficient to counteract these developments.
Objective
The sustainable use of natural resources in and around selected protected areas in Madagascar is improved.
Approach
The project supports the Boeny and Diana regions. To maintain biodiversity in the protected areas, it is important that legal alternatives to the illegal use of timber are available to meet local demand for firewood and timber. Additional income opportunities from agricultural and forestry products are also needed to improve the living conditions of the local population so that they help conserve biodiversity.
The project promotes the specialist skills of those involved in selected value chains, including wood products, honey, cashew nuts, pink pepper and moringa. This professionalisation is boosting stakeholders’ income and increasing the population’s interest in and opportunities for using natural resources in an environmentally friendly way. The European Union (EU) is providing further financial support for these activities and measures to restore forest areas in the Ambilobe district of the Diana region.
To ensure long-term commitment, the project promotes improvements in the administrative and technical framework for the environmentally friendly management of natural resources. This contributes to maintaining biodiversity and also supports specialised public services in advising and promoting local users and user groups with regard to sustainable management.