Reforestation
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Madagascar has experienced rapid and severe deforestation in recent decades – less than 10% of the forest is left. Ranomafana National Park contains 44,000 ha of forest, but its peripheral zone is being “nibbled away” as human populations increase, agricultural output falls, and land is in short supply. Yet peripheral areas are also important for their ecosystem services (such as preventing erosion, regulating water flow, etc.) and act as a buffer for the biodiversity of the national park.
We have been running a reforestation programme since 2001 to involve the villagers in the peripheral zone in restoring the degraded forests around the Park, showing the importance of the forest and its biodiversity and presenting a range of durable means of existence as alternatives to harmful practices. Planting trees on degraded land can help hold back the soil and prevent terrible landslides, and can help the soil retain water. Restoring this degraded forest habitat can convert secondary forest and grasslands into habitat that is suitable for lemurs, birds and other animals.
Centre ValBio’s reforestation activities are based at Kainja Maitso (Green Space) where we have five tree nurseries. These produce indigenous tree species used in reforestation, as well as fruit trees. Reforestation activities started as part of our outreach education programme in schools, with 9 target schools. In this way the school acts as a shop window and a centre from which reforestation techniques can spread into local communities. A further six schools are being added to the programme in 2008, but we want to do more, as there are some 80 schools and 100 villages in the peripheral zone of the National Park.
The objectives of this programme are to:
1) To develop and maintain Kainja Maitso as a demonstration site (tree nursery maintenance, compost and vegetable plots)
2) To produce 5,000 seedlings per year
3) To add five village schools per year to the reforestation programme, involving developing indigenous tree nurseries, school compost plots, and school botanical gardens and providing basic equipment (e.g. spades and watering cans)
4) To train school children and parent-teacher committees in tree care and reforestation techniques
5) To organise a reforestation campaign per school per year
Centre ValBio
MADAGASCAR - Centre ValBio (the international Centre for Research and Training in the Valorization of Biodiversity) is located near the eastern rainforest corridor of the province of Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. Centre ValBio is situated very close to the Ranomafana National Park. ...
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