Madagascar

Our work

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. 

 

 

 

Who we work with

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.



Output1

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. 

Output2

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.

Output3

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. 

 

Output4

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.

 

Madagascar Legal Hub

Country legal hubs are a user-friendly point of access to a comprehensive set of data and analysis on the statutory legal frameworks relating to sustainable wildlife management.

Publications

Available on the French version.

Videos

Sustainable wildlife management near Makira Natural Park, Madagascar
20/07/2021

Madagascar is a truly unique biodiversity hotspot. More than 80% of the flora and fauna can only be found on the island. However, this unique mosaic...

Nirina – A Malagasy small-scale businesswoman
15/12/2020

Find out about Nirina, an inspiring small-scale businesswoman who is trying to improve her life, and those of her two daughters, in the remote village...

Jean Rabe – A Malagasy hunter and conservationist
09/12/2020

Find out about Bejean (Jean Rabe), a traditional hunter and wildlife conservationist living in the remote village of Marovovonana in North-east Madagascar...

Madagascar’s communities support wildlife conservation
02/11/2020

The Makira Natural Park in Madagascar is teeming with an extremely rich diversity of flora and fauna. Remote communities in the region rely on fishing...

Supported by

Consortium partners

ACP logo     European Union logo     FFEM logo  AFD logo  
FAO logo       CIFOR-ICRAF logo           WCS logo

 

Contact us

 

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