Madagascar communities partner to protect coastline
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Representatives from several organizations signed an agreement in Mahajanga, Madagascar to launch the Papec project, which aims to improve life for local communities while preserving coastal ecosystems in the Boeny region.
The project will focus on reducing damage to mangrove forests and supporting long-term conservation efforts. Janique Etienne of the French Fund for the Global Environment (FFEM) explained the project responds to increasing pressure on coastal ecosystems and the difficulties faced by communities that rely on them.
The Papec project will invest 3.1 million euros, with 1.5 million euros coming from the FFEM, to develop sustainable economic opportunities. Noro Andriamamonjisoa, president of the Tany Meva Foundation, emphasized that local communities should be full partners in the project, not simply recipients of aid. The project will support industries like small-scale fishing, crab harvesting, beekeeping, salt farming, silk and raffia production, sustainable charcoal, and eco-tourism.
Adakalo Nasolo, the head of the Boeny region, stated the project aligns with the region’s development plan for the next eighteen years and is expected to directly improve people’s living standards. The Papec project will work within four protected areas. Antrema, Mahavavy-Kinkony, Baie de Baly, and Bombetoka-Belemboka, all managed by different organizations including the National Museum of Natural History of Paris and Madagascar National Parks.
