(Photo by Erik Patel)
As menƟoned in the newsleƩer’s introductory arƟcle,
reforestaƟon will be an important component of DLC’s SAVA
ConservaƟoniniƟaƟve.WeintendedtocarryoutreforestaƟon
eīorts ourselves by working with local villagers, focusing on
zonesthatbordertheimportantprotectedareas.However,in
theveryearlystagesoftheproject,welearnedthataBelgian
NGO, Graine de Vie (Seed of Life), has been working for
severalyearsalready,exclusivelyonreforestaƟon,intheSAVA
and adjoining Masoala area. Erik and Lanto visited Graine de
Vie(GdV)treenurseriesandreforestaƟonsites,andmetwith
the director and personnel of GdV. We learned that GdV is
quiteadynamicorganizaƟonthatisquicklyexpandingitsoperaƟons,includingtosomeof
the sensiƟve zones around protected areas. Although they have only been working in the
region since 2009, they have already planted around 500,000 trees at 5 diīerent sites in
northeastern Madagascar, and expect to surpass the million
tree mark later this year! Most importantly, GdV is working
closely with local villagers – each village that parƟcipates in
the reforestaƟon (and there are many on the waiƟng list) is
required to sign a ‘dina’ which is a locally enacted law that
prohibitsall burninginthereforestaƟonareas.Suchassured
protecƟon and village cooperaƟon is an essenƟal part of
reforestaƟoninMadagascar.Ratherthanduplicatethework
ofGdVintheareaofreforestaƟon,wehaveenteredintoan
agreementofcollaboraƟon.DLCͲSCwillsupport3villagetree
nurseries and subsequent reforestaƟon, at sites in the
MarojejyNaƟonalParkperipheralzone.ErikandLantowillbe
able to monitor the
progress of the nurseries,
andwillhaveinputintothe
species of trees planted.
We will keep you updated
on this exciƟng aspect of
theproject!
Collaborative
inspections of
GdV's nurseries
and reforestation.