Protecting ecosystems in Madagascar and supporting long-term development

Context

Madagascar is one of the world’s poorest countries. Its growing population and environmentally harmful agriculture are a heavy burden on the environment and biodiversity. Over the past 60 years, some 44 per cent of the country's natural forests have been cleared. This is harming ecological stability and thus resilience to climate change, and impacting climate action efforts. Furthermore, natural resources such as water and fertile soils are increasingly at risk, threatening the country's economic development.

Objective

The integrated, future-proof development of communities and ecosystems in the zones surrounding selected protected areas has improved.

Approach

The project operates in the buffer zones of selected protected areas.

It advises regional and local public authorities on improving ecosystem management. This aims to ensure that natural resources are used and protected in a responsible manner. It also aims to secure social and economic benefits for the population and thus protect livelihoods.

The project supports regional and local actors in making informed and coordinated decisions and agreements for the sustainable development of their region, in which all interest groups are included. Among other things, it incorporates the concerns of adjacent communities into the administration and management plans of the protected areas.

Furthermore, the project advises farmers and regional administrations on how to manage arable land in ways that are cost-effective, socially sound and environmentally friendly. The objective is to increase people’s yields and incomes while maintaining ecological stability.