Preserving the forests of Nosy Boraha
Duration of the partnership
2016-2021
Location
Madagascar
With 2,954 ha of exceptional forest and 450 ha of mangroves, Nosy Boraha has been listed as a priority protection site by the Madagascan State. Slash and burn agriculture, overexploitation of resources and tourism are causing deforestation, soil erosion and posing a direct threat to the island’s biodiversity.
In order to halt the deforestation process, the project supports local players in the setting up of conservation actions, in particular the acquisition of a classification status taking into account the three forests and the marine and coastal ecosystems (reefs and mangroves), as well as the setting up of an ecological restoration programme for these ecosystems.
Thanks to initial support provided by the Maisons du Monde Foundation between 2016 and 2018, the GRET set up various actions in order to develop the preservation project for Nosy Boraha.
A look back at the results of the main actions:
Thanks to this partnership renewal, the GRET team is planning to increase the involvement and empowerment of local populations.
The goals for 2019-2021 are as follows:
The Gret, via the consultation platform, allows the direct involvement of 13,000 people in the project, including nine farmers’ groups supported in the setting up of agroecological market gardening models. Furthermore, this project has allowed the creation of 42 jobs (nursery workers, project managers, etc.).
In the frame of this renewal, 60 new households will benefit from the GRET’s support in order to develop alternative economic activities.
The Consultation platform targets:
The Gret’s approach to this project aims to:
“This project allows us to restore a part of the mangrove forest that was razed during the construction of the Belle Vue seawall and bridge. This restoration is particularly important for Sainte Marie because the mangroves are spawning and nursery grounds for fish and shellfish. (…) A mangrove forest in good health thanks to the monitoring activities of the Communauté Locale de Base de St Joseph, manager of the mangrove forest, provides hope for an increase in fish and shellfish resources.”
Abdallah ISSOUF of the Communauté Locale (VOI) of St Joseph, beneficiary of the project.