In our last update on our multi-year project in CAZ West, Madagascar, made possible thanks to the support of The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), we reported on how training in climate-smart agriculture and a transition to agroforestry were helping local communities to build resilience against climate change and to reduce their reliance on unsustainable farming practices. In this report we want to focus on the work being undertaken to help restore areas of the forest that have been degraded by human activities.

Local Community Support
One of the most important elements of successful forest restoration is having the support of the local communities. The VOI (Vondron’Olona Ifotony – local community associations) play a very important role in this regard as their objectives include actively participating in environmental protection, particularly through the production of native plants and restoration of forest areas. We are very pleased to have strong support for these activities at our project site in CAZ West with local rangers collecting wildings, local community members managing the tree nurseries, and local people across all age groups participating in transplanting the saplings into degraded areas of forest. We have also made very good progress with the VOI committees who are very willing to protect the areas over which they have management responsibilities.

Community Management of Tree Nurseries © The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar

Why Forest Restoration is Important
Forests are an essential component for life on Earth. When significant deforestation occurs there are numerous negative consequences, such as:

Tree Nurseries
At the start of the project our team accompanied members of the VOIs responsible for areas within the project site on a mission to identify degraded forest that would be suitable for restoration. At the same time each community established a tree nursery where native and endemic tree saplings could be cared for until ready for transplantation.

Tree Nursery Ranomainty © The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar

People from the local community carry out the work at the nurseries and in addition to the trees to be used for forest restoration they also grow other plants, such as coffee, to be used in agroforestry.

Challenges
The engagement of the local communities is essential but the challenges relating to deforestation, and forest restoration, are complex and not easily resolved. For example:

Illegal Activities: Whilst some deforestation occurs due to local people, often caused by their need to extend agricultural land, the main problem now is the new, and increasing pressure, from outsiders. This pressure comes in various forms, but at the CAZ West project site it is primarily outsiders coming into the area causing substantial destruction by exploring for gold and immigrants from other villages carrying out illegal activities within the area protected by the local community.

Holes Dug During Illegal Gold Mining Activities © The Aspinall Foundation, Madagascar

Invasive Species: Another challenge is the opportunistic growth of various alien species. Often introduced to Madagascar as ornamental plants, or to provide a food source, some non-native plants pose a severe threat to the island’s unique ecosystems by outcompeting endemic flora, altering soil chemistry, and degrading natural habitats. Where patches of forest have been left empty of trees the conditions are often ideal for such plants to occupy the space, smothering and crowding out any natural regrowth of native species.

Invasive Ferns © The Aspinall Foundation, Madagascar

Climate Change: Young saplings are transplanted by the local communities in the early weeks of the rainy season as the plants have a better chance of survival. Unfortunately, we are now seeing the variable weather patterns caused by climate change are having a negative impact. Rainfall patterns are increasingly unpredictable, and the worsening conditions result in delays to the rainy season, extended droughts, rising temperatures, and frequent, intense cyclones. The result is an environment that can easily destroy newly planted saplings before they can mature sufficiently to survive.

How this Project is Helping Local Communities to Mitigate the Challenges
To provide the saplings with the best chance of survival areas are cleared of invasive species prior to transplantation. Our project also includes training in climate-smart agricultural techniques and the participating community members have received training in the correct methods for safely using the resulting plant material in the production of compost, reducing the use of chemical fertilisers.

To help offset the impact of adverse weather patterns due to climate change we have provided training to community members on the best techniques to use during transplantation.

Training in the use of A Frames © The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar

This involved the construction and use of A frames to establish contour lines. A frames are a cost-effective, easy to make, tool that can be used to establish level lines across slopes. By understanding the contours of the land the saplings can be planted in the best positions for the natural harvesting of rainwater.


Digging Planting Holes © The Aspinall Foundation Madagascar

Attention was also given to the best way to dig planting holes. Careful selection of plant spacing and digging the hole to meet the best dimensions optimises planting efficiency and helps ensure the survival rate of the saplings. They are most vulnerable when first planted and they need to establish a strong root system as quickly, and effortlessly, as possible.

Regular monitoring patrols in protected areas is helping to reduce the occurrence of illegal activities, along with awareness-raising. When offenders are identified the relevant VOI can then impose financial penalties and, depending on the severity of the offence, the matter may be passed to local authorities for further action and possible prosecution. VOIs are authorised and legally recognised entities that assume responsibility for the natural resources with an area defined within a Transfer of Management contract. These contracts are valid for several years but do require regular renewal. Unfortunately the VOIs at the project site all require their transfer of management contracts to be renewed. When a contract expires the VOI struggles to justify their legitimacy/legality despite the fact that they remain the legal manager of the area unless the forestry authorities declare that they are not able to properly manage their resources. Although the contract renewal is not one of the activities for this particular project we will continue to work with the VOIs to secure the necessary funding to complete this process as quickly as possible.

Our Project’s Forest Restoration Target
During the course of this project we expect 37.5 hectares of rainforest to be restored. This will be achieved by by working in collaboration with the local communities, supporting them to reach, and exceed their individual targets.

We are grateful to CEPF for their support to work alongside some of the communities in CAZ West.

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation.