Study Tour to the Forest Corridor for SANREM CRSP Team
On June 21st , 2005 , the SANREM CRSP executive team was escorted on a day tour of representative sites in the Ranomafana-Andringitra corridor by a team from Ecoregional Initiatives, Fianarantsoa. Following is the agenda from the day trip. The purpose of the field trip was for the team to view some of the key threats to the continuity of the forest corridor and to learn about problems faced by local communities living in and around the forest corridor.
8 :00
Welcome : Mark S. Freudenberger, Regional Director, ERI Fianarantsoa
- Overview and presentation of the team
- History of the FCE railway
- Mission Program
Departure from FCE Railway station
The team traveled through the corridor region on the newly renovated FCE Railway. See
http://www.fcemadagascar.com/_voyage.htm for more information. The homes shown here are typical of villages near the regional capital, Fianarantsoa.
- Visit to the ex-Forest Research Statior??observe natural regeneration
of forest resources
 |
The team visited the old forest research station at Ampamaherena and visited plots of native and non-native trees planted over 30 years ago. |
- Presentation of "Plantations de la Haute Matsiatra ))
as an example of forest restoration of an exotic monoculture.
- Presentation of forest seed supply constraints
Stop II : Ranomena (PK 33) (Haja Guy, Etienne, Julien Noel of CIREEF)
- Presentation on proceseese of Betsileo conquest of the forest
- Discussion of root causes and consequenses of forest conversion on the western side of the forest corridor.
 |
At the edge of the forest corridor, the team stopped to observe an area experiencing degradation due to expansion of slash-and-burn agriculture. |
Stop III: Ranomena Gare (Julien Noel of CIREEF)
- Brief observation and discussion around seized stocks of illegally cut wood.
| The railroad station at Ranomena. There is no road access into this region, so movement of people and goods is by rail or foot. |  |
11:45
 |
Charlie Welch and Tom Hammett, 2 investigators on the SANREM CRSP team, on the railway car during the tour. |
Stop IV: Forest Corridor (Vololona, CIREEF)
- Photo stop of forests of central corridor
- Short presentation of biodiversity inventory of forest corridor
- Brief walk in fores
Stop V: View Point of Eastern Side of Forest Corridor (Haja Guy, Vololona)
- Presentation of processes of Tanala conquest of the forest
- Presentation of maps documenting forest fragmentation
12:45
 |
Within the forest corridor, steep slopes and sheer rock faces limit some expansion of agricultural activities into pristine areas of rainforest. |
Stop VI: Vetiver for Soil Stabilization and Reclamation (Etienne of FCER project)
- Presentation of FCER soil stabilization initiatives using vetiver
Stop VII: Mandriampotsy Waterfall
- Lunch at the Mandiampotsy waterfall
- Discussion of ecotourism potential and FCE railway
StopVIII : Andramvovato
-Team A : Visit to community managed GCF at interior of forest (Vololona)
- Team B: Visit to pandanus research site (Vokatry Ny Ala)
 |
At the Ranomena rail station, the team learned about local products that people send to the regional markets from the corridor and observed how the illegal harvest and sale of wood from the corridor can be halted at this point through railway controls." |
Departure for Fianarantsoa
 |
The corridor, valued for both biodiversity and economic reasons, is highly threatened by expanding agricultural practices. The forest corridor could be broken in the next 5-10 years without active management and the development of alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture for the local communities. |
Arrive in Fianarantsoa
 |