Conservation Value:

The Farankaraina Forest, located on Antongil Bay in NE Madagascar, comprises 3,000 ha (including ~1,000 ha of primary rainforest) and extends inland from the ocean to an interior elevation of 410 MASL. The forest is situated within proximity to Makira Natural Park (the largest protected area in Madagascar) and Masoala National Park (the largest National Park of Madagascar). It is estimated that the Antongil Bay area contains 50% of Madagascar’s biodiversity while covering only 2% of its surface area. The region is also home to the highest diversity of Madagascar’s emblematic lemur species and more than half of all the known endemic species in the island, including the Endangered aye-aye and the Critically Endangered red-ruffed lemur.

Threats:

The Farankaraina Forest and other forests in NE Madagascar experience a lot of pressure due to increasing population and poverty. There are eight communities with an estimated total population of 20,000 people living around the Farankaraina Forest. The main threats to the reserve are the growing demands for land for subsistence farming (slash-and-burn agricultural practices), illegal logging for charcoal and precious woods (e.g., Madagascar rosewood), unsustainable collection of non-timber resources (e.g., honey, wax, tubers, bark, and medicinal plants), some artisanal mining, and poaching.

Actions & Results:

Highlights:

•  In partnership with Local Village Associations (VOI), Fandroakando continues to do regular patrols and surveillance within the Farankaraina Forest. Without Fandroakando’s activities, there would be illegal agricultural settlements inside the reserve with large portions of the forest cleared to grow rice and other crops.

• Through its ‘Aye-Aye Environment Club’, Fandroakando recently launched two projects in Maroantsetra: a plastics collection initiative and community education program. The government does not provide any garbage pickup or disposal and, to ameliorate this situation, the ‘Aye-Aye Environment Club’ erected garbage pails in one area of Maroantsetra as a trial project which they clear once per month. In addition, the Club has a weekly radio program where they discuss various environmental topics. To date, the ‘Aye-Aye Environment Club’ has 48 youth members.

• The organization’s activities are also having a positive impact for the indigenous communities in the region, as demonstrated by the recent increase in VOI membership.