In Madagascar
DaoForest is participating in the reforestation efforts of Madagascar, by way of providing crucial funding aid. A unique island-nation teeming with more than 200,000 plant and animal species, Madagascar’s reforestation is moving forward at a fast pace with the help of our tree-planting partner on the ground.
Project: Kalamboro Estuary
In the remote estuarine mangrove ecosystem of Kalamboro, DaoForest and our tree-planting partner – Eden Reforestation Projects, help local villagers in the revival of tiny mangrove patches that have been cleared. Although it is government property, the local community associations manage the area in cooperation with the authorities. Kalamboro is plagued by rampant poverty, prolific birth rates, and a thriving timber smuggling trade.
But fortunately, mangrove forest regeneration is driving community prosperity along with shoring up dwindling fish stocks the waters, and strengthening the coastal soil banks against erosion. Indeed, the mangroves strike root in the salt water ecosystems of the coastal belts in the tropics and subtropics. Mangroves are known for the carbon-sequestering capacities. They also act as soil stabilizers and buffer zones against tidal pressures. To top it all, mangroves provide a fantastic sanctuary for the myriad fish species that poor communities, supported by Eden, depend upon for sustenance and earning a livelihood.
Project: Cape opposite the city of Mahajunga
The Eden Reforestation Projects is silently working alongside a local community, on reviving an exclusive forest ecosystem that is home to as many as six endangered lemur species. This includes the Crowned Sifaka lemur. Endemic to the Boeny region of Madagascar, the last of these lemur species struggle for survival in the few remaining patches of forests. Time is of the essence as these patches are not enough for their sustenance.
The objective of this exciting project is to revive around 2,500 hectares of land encompassing dry-deciduous forests and also mangroves hugging the coastline. To achieve this, we need to plant 6,250,000 trees. Once the project is completed, the two ecosystems will merge into one giant ecosystem that covers all the sections coming under this massive green belt project. Incidentally, Eden has been active in reviving mangrove estuarine ecosystems on Madagascar’s west coast, right from 2007 onwards.
The project, being developed on government land, on completion, will be converted into gazette land to facilitate conservation along with serving eco-tourism and educational purposes.
