The Makira Natural Park is teeming with flora and fauna, including 17 lemur species. It is the country's largest intact rainforest and many local people depend on it for natural resources. Due to its remote location, and the lack of available farmed meat, subsistence-level hunting is a common practice for local communities. However, illegal hunting threatens the future of wildlife in the region, particularly endangered species. The SWM Programme in Madagascar promotes the sustainable use of non-protected wildlife species and an increase in farmed fish and poultry to reduce wild meat consumption. This will help improve food security while conserving endemic species.
The SWM Programme in Madagascar is working with eight communities. Field activities are coordinated by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.
Output 1: Community rights and governance
The SWM Programme in Madagascar operates through local governance structures called Communautés de base (COBA). Capacity-building activities have strengthened the governance capabilities of local authorities and community associations. The templates used by the COBAs to manage their activities were updated with support from the SWM Programme and in close collaboration with the local government.
To support statutory legal reform processes, over 450 texts relating to sustainable natural resources management were collected and analyzed, and are now available on the Legal Hub. These support the government review of Ordinance 60-126 on the country’s hunting, fishing and wildlife protection regime through a multi-stakeholder working group. Recommendations were also made to update the GELOSE law (Gestion Locale Sécurisée) for the transfer of natural resources management rights to local communities.
Output 2: Adaptive wildlife management
Six management transfer contracts with local communities have been reviewed and renewed and now include customary norms and practices. The Programme strengthened these structures by appointing hunter and fisherman representatives and incorporating participatory wildlife management plans into the contracts. Training sessions on forestry, fishing, and hunting legislation involved 64 participants, including hunter and fisherman representatives and local authorities.
Output 3: Healthy and sustainable supply chains and consumption
Baseline studies on wild and domestic meat consumption informed a behaviour change strategy to reduce reliance on hunting endemic species and improve food security and income. Over 900 people received poultry farming training, and 1,100 participated in fish-farming training. The farmer field-school approach has also helped test adaptative farming methods and develop good practices. A behaviour change campaign to promote is being implemented in 2024. Insect studies highlighted the potential of farming the endemic Sakondry (Zanna madagascariensis), and 220 people have been trained in its cultivation on local plants. The insect is appreciated by communities and is increasingly rare in the wild.
Output 4: Zoonotic risk prevention and management
The One Health approach in Makira addresses zoonotic risks from traditional hunting practices. A community pilot project involves regular blood sample collection from tenrecs and bushpigs by hunters for analysis. Several common pathogens were identified, and targeted awareness campaigns will educate communities on safer legal hunting and wild meat consumption practices.
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