Summary Document:
Major Native Species-Based Reforestation and Restoration Activities in Madagascar as of June 2005
In June-July 2005, Sarah Karpanty and Charles Welch conducted interviews with leading NGOs active in environmental conservation activities in Madagascar in an attempt to bring together a list of current, past, and planned future restoration activities in Madagascar . This activity was one component of a planning grant for the USAID SANREM CRSP proposal, titled Restoration of biodiversity and economic values to degraded rainforest and agricultural landscapes in southeastern Madagascar .
In the course of these interviews, meetings, and round-table discussions, it became clear that many restoration activities in Madagascar are in the planning or early implementation phase, with little to no published data currently available on methodologies and success rates for different activities. The exceptions to this rule are forest plantations created by the government, government contractors, or research units such as FOFIFA which do offer a chance to look at the endpoint to some older plantations. There is little long-term data available at these sites, so data collected today will simply offer a snapshot of restoration potential after a given number of years. Unfortunately, most sites have had limited monitoring, so there is little data on survival rates of different species used in these plantations.
On the following pages, we summarize our notes from these meetings. This should not be assumed to be a comprehensive review of all restoration activities in Madagascar , but a guide to major activities being conducted in Madagascar . This list stemmed from a restoration round-table discussion organized by Lisa Gaylord at the USAID Madagascar mission in June 2005 as well as personal contacts of Karpanty and Welch. This list does not include large government plantations of non-native trees such as Eucalyptus sp. The projects are arranged in alphabetical order only, by contact organization.
Project 1 .
Contact: Centre ValBio, Sarah Karpanty, karpanty@vt.edu ; centrevalbio@yahoo.com
Location: Peripheral zone of Ranomafana National Park, Village of Ambatovory
Goal: Restore native trees of value to both people and wildlife to peripheral zone of Ranomafana National Park, and to villages near the park. Education of villagers and school children regarding reforestation.
Timeline and Progress: Ongoing since 2000, data available on growth rates and survivorship of over 25 native forest trees.
Project 2 .
Contact : Corridor Coffee and Spices, Chris Dunston, chrisdunston@wanadoo.mg
Focus area : Edges of forest corridor between Ranomafana-Andringitra National Parks
Goal :
- Main objective is to produce a high quality, marketable coffee for export through proper growing and processing techniques.
- Relevant as a sustainable agriculture alternative in corridor area, functioning train line is critical to success.
Timeline and Progress : Currently working in Tolongoina area with planters there and a washing station at Mandriandro.
Project 3 .
Contact: Conservation Internation Biocarbon Fund Project , Frank Hawkins;
Louise Holloway, louiseh@mail.gn.apc.org , is an expert on reforestation using native trees in this region and in Masoala region
Location : Andasibe-Mantadia-Zahamena Forest Corridor region
Goal: To restore degraded areas of forest to functioning ecosystems, To create sources of revenue for local populations, To increase forest cover, To reduce carbon emissions, To conserve existing biodiversity habitats.
Timeline and Progress: 6- year planning phase finished, waiting on final funding to be processed.
Project 4.
Contact : Dynatech, David Meyers
Location : Near Moramanga
Goal : Replanting of native trees on an area exploited for timber harvest and mining activities.
Timeline and Progress : Ongoing. We did not meet with anyone directly working on this project, but it was repeatedly brought to our attention.
Project 5 .
Contact: ESSA Foret/Agro ( University of Antananarivo ) – Joel RATSIRARSON
Location : Tampolo, 675 hectare Station Forestiere managed by ESSA, Located 10 km north of Fenerive Est and covered with mix of degraded land and littoral forest.
Goal : Restore native tree species of value to the local human population.
Timeline and Progress : Ongoing
• Forest restoration project there ongoing since 1998, and is focusing on the degraded parts of the Station.
• Seeds coming from Station, but plantules are often used instead of germinating seed.
• Leaf litter from natural forest often spread around under seedlings after planting because of lack of topsoil.
• The Chef responsible at Tampolo is Henri and he can give much more particular information and stats on work going on at Tampolo – to date nothing has been published or put together on the work done at Tampolo.
• Still having problems with cutting and tree removal on Station land
Project 6 :
Contact: FOFIFA, Andrianasolo RABEVOHITRA Raymond
Location: Many sites, focus on HPS-Fianarantsoa, Mashomanga, 1.5 km east of Ranomafana village center; Vangimaha, 8 km east of Ranomafana village center
Goal: Scientific and economic research on reforestation of both native and non-native forest trees on highly degraded land.
Timeline and Progress: Plantings in 1994, monitored from 1997-2012. Report with data available from FOFIFA.
Project 7 .
Contact : Madagascar Fauna Group, mfg@wanadoo.mg or Charles Welch
Location : Parc Ivoloina and Betampona Natural Reserve
Goal: Restore native tree species of value to wildlife and local people. Conservation education in concert with reforestation activities.
Timeline and Progress : Ongoing since mid-1990s, data available on tree growth and survival.
Project 8 .
Contact : MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN , Madagascar
M Christian CAMARA, Permanent Rep, PO Box 3391 , Antananarivo 101, Madagascar ; christian.camara@mobot-mg.org
M Fortunat RAKOTOARIVONY – Responsible for Mahabo site
M Adolph NYHAVANA – Responsible for Analalava site
Mme Sylvie ANDRIAMBOLOLONERA
Mme Jeannie RAHARIMAMPIONONA
Locations : Analalava, Ankazobe, Mahabo, Voibola, Montagne des Francais near Diego Saurez in the near future
Goal :
- Some targeted species :
- Schizolaena tampoketsana (100 individuals left at Ankazobe)
- Rabaraba (20 indivduals left at Analalava)
- Restoration of native forests, especially concerned with littoral and riparian systems
Timeline and Progress : Ongoing, Site-Specific details below
Analalava
• 7 kms west of Foulepointe
• 200 hectares in good shape and to restore
• Working with 10 species of endemic plants
• Mostly on laterite soil, but small part on sand
• 5 Species of lemurs
• Has several Pteropus fruit bat roosting trees, which are still active
Ankazobe
• Located on road to Mahajanga – site 10 hectares
• Fire main menace – firebreak put in to protect area
• Partially denuded – rapid growing exotics planted ( Euc. )
• Mixed reforestation project started in March of 2005
• Working with 10 species of native trees
• Eliminating invasive plants to encourage growth of seedlings/saplings
• Villagers interested in having Raventsara ( Cryptocarya aromatica ) planted so leaves can be exploited for essential oils.
• Schizolaena has a very well developed root system, hence is well adapted for slopes.
• Village for homeless from Tana has been installed nearby by the government
Mahabo
• Located south of Farafangana, 20 kms south of Manombo, north of QMM site at Mandena.
- 1500 hectares of littoral forest + 1000 hectares of marsh
• Project of restoration/reforestation started in Oct. 2002
• Objectives – research and conservation
• Dinas put into place with villagers to stop tavy and protect the forest.
• Tree nurseries in villages (9).
- 8 for exotic species ( Eucalyptus, etc.)
- 1 for native tree species
– 25 different species, most of which are those used by villagers for construction, medicine, etc.
• All seed coming from local region.
• More than 2000 plantules planted out
• Trying management of Mahampy, ( Juncus ), which is an aquatic reed used to make mats and baskets etc. Also known as Pengy (Betsimasaraka).
- dina put in place limiting harvest of any individual plant to 2 times per year
- also planting Mahampy with village participation
- Villagers that help with village tree nurseries are allowed to have free of charge,
fruit and spice tree seedlings raised in nursery.
• 2 Peace Corps volunteers working at site along with 19 personnel of MBG
• QIT will possibly fund more restoration work in the future.
• 4 species of lemur present including very endangered Eulemur fulvus albocollaris
Voibola (Mate – Olivier Bera)
• Located near village of Andranokoditra in littoral area (near tourist area of Ankan'y Nofy), south of Tamatave.
• Tree nurseries run by Mate with funding from Global Tree Campaign
• Collaborative project with MBG
• 4 endangered tree species exist at site:
- Schizolaena
- Sakoanala mad.
- Hubertiodendron
- Rhopolocarpus (only 4 individuals)
• Total of 6 species being raised for restoration
• Eventual essential oil extraction is a main objective of project
Project 9 .
Contact : Mme Manon VINCILETTE, QIT Madagascar Minerals S.A. (QMM)
Location : Mandena, north of Fort Dauphin
Goal :
- Restoring littoral forest and wetlands.
- Main objective is to restore forest cover in areas damaged or destroyed by mining.
Timeline and Progress : Ongoing
- Have 2 hectares of trials and 200 hectares already designated as a conservation site.
- Also planting 400 hectares of fast growing (exotics).
- Eucalyptus – have found that robusta works best
- Acacia (crassicarpa and mangeum)
- Tree nursery capacity: 20,000 for native trees and 150,000 for fast growing exotics.
- 10 years worth of research and planting.
- established phenological calander
- research on germination strategies
- sending some seed for ex-situ work
- Actively planting 100 – 150 littoral forest tree species.
- working with pioneer, secondary, and primary forest species
- Much of topsoil is gone – experimenting with making compost to replace
- Restoring forest for certain targeted faunal species by replanting vegetation which provides specific habitat and/or food. - Restoring coastal sand dunes by planting mangrove trees and Phillipia (shrub)
- Evaluating forest development with aerial photos at 5 year intervals
- Plans to link with MBG restoration project at Mahabo
- Receiving tourists at Mandena – have trained guides and a publicity brochure.
- Field guide on littoral forest trees in progress, in collaboration with MBG and Kew .
- Monograph in progress on results of research
Project 10 .
Contact : Wildlife Conservation Society, collaborate with AEECL, SAFF, FJKM
Location : Sahamalaza, Iles Radama, northwestern coastal Madagascar
Goal: Re-establish forest cover, restore water regime, maintain ecological equilibrium
Timeline and Progress : Ongoing, 10 ha of land already reforested with native tree species, 5 pilot study sites, established reforestation contracts with local people and training of tree nursery staff.
Project 11 .
Contact : WWF-Vondrozo Project, Rambeloarisoa Gerard, grambeloarisoa@wwf.mg
Focus area : South of Andringitra National Park , Foret Classee Vondrozo
Goal :
- Main objective is to restore ecological integrity and increase human benefits from the forest.
Timeline and Progress : Planning Phase, Plan to combine agroforestry and native tree reforestation
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