Central Menabe Biodiversity:
A Plan for protection of nature's rich endowment through the development of a regional management scheme

Project Background

The Central Menabe eco-system, the section of Menabe between south of the Tsiribihina River and north of the national highway approximately 15 km east of Morondava (see map at the end of section 2), was identified during the scientific workshop of 1999, "Setting the Priorities for the Protected Area Network Strategic Plan", that was attended by national and international scientists, protected area managers and political leaders, as a priority site for biodiversity conservation in Madagascar. The rare western dry forest of Central Menabe is physically and biologically isolated from other forests. There are at least four species that are endemic only to this ecosystem: Hypogeomys antimena, Microcebus berthae, Pyxis planicauda, and Mungotictis decemlineata decemlineata. Of the endemic species present, Hypogeomys antimena, the giant jumping rat, stands out as a priority for conservation. Hypogeomys antimena is the most sensitive species to disturbances within this fragile eco-system. It has an extremely limited habitat that is being destroyed at a rate of 4.4% annually. This translates to habitat reduction from 42,000 ha in 1985 to only 19,000 ha in year 2000, which is fragmented in two main blocks; the forest of Ambadira (4000 ha) and Kirindy forest (12,500 ha). In a no habitat conservation scenario the species could go extinct in the next 20 years (Population and Habitat Viability Assessment of the Hypogeomys antimena, draft report, Durrell, 2001). FANAMBY is developing a program to support a consortium of NGO's, local leaders, authorities and stakeholders called the Platform for Conservation of Biodiversity in Menabe who is working toward sustainable solutions for the conservation and socio-economic issues facing the local population.

Objectives

We believe conservation biodiversity and the remaining intact habitat for endemic species is only possible through supporting local institutions such as the Platform members. FANAMBY will work as a catalyst to draw together and support local these institutions to improve human resources, decision-making capacity, and understanding of the overall natural resources problem.

Specific objectives from the project are; by the year 2004, (1) important intact biodiversity zones are under legal protection through a protected area system covering at least 19,000 ha and (2) local communities and authorities are trained to be the ultimate decision makers regarding the management of the region's natural resources.

FANAMBY's short-term objective is to establish a regional management scheme for the highly endangered biodiversity in the Central Menabe region. The protected areas system will be based around the strategies and priority conservation sites defined within the scheme and based on data supplied by Platform members, Durrell, the German Primate Center (DPZ), the Swiss Cooperation, Ministry of Waters and Forests, and other local NGO's and businesses. The platform will be the natural resources management leader in the region and leading force in the improvement of communications among actors, authorities and stakeholders, increase dialogue between conflicting stakeholders, facilitation of resolution, and development of concrete tools such as a centralized database.

Activities

FANAMBY will work with the Platform to solidify the conservation process in Central Menabe through three main activities: implementation of a forestry plan, development of outreach and education strategies and development of local human resource capacities.

Forestry plan
The FANAMBY forestry plan is designed to bring stakeholders and decision makers into the same forum, give them equal access to decision making tools and information to building consensus toward win-win solutions. Activities will include the collection of biological and socio-economic data on which conservation strategies will be based. Develop with the local Waters and Forests Service a zoning scheme based on Waters and Forests Service criteria and on the database information. Identify and petition for future protected area sites in Central Menabe. Develop, with Platform members, a regional management scheme that will take into account all stakeholder needs.

Outreach
The FANAMBY outreach and education program is designed to teach local communities their rights, privileges and especially the benefits of protecting and managing their ancestral forested lands. We use data gained from the project about the forest and the people to develop education modules that address questions in the fields of forest law, community rights, and general education and awareness raising about the mysteries of the forest. Basic activities include working with local community leaders and authorities to identify environmental, legal education and awareness raising needs. Education and awareness raising modules completed during community festivals using brochures, informational talks, environmental games, theatre and prizes.

Building human resource capacity
As an essential part of the FANAMBY philosophy, dedicate much of our resources to involve local community leaders and authorities in the conservation planning and implementation process. The FANAMBY goal is to teach local institutions to build consensus through dialogue and complete information so local capacity will replace the actions that were one accomplished through a FANAMBY-stakeholder collaboration.