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A partnership between the local community, international NGOs and research institutions
aims to demonstrate the economic, conservation and fisheries benefits of
Madagascar’s first community-run Marine Protected Area (MPA).
Healthy coral reefs are fundamental to the livelihoods
of hundreds of millions of people in tropical
coastal environments, and form part of the crucial life
support system of the biosphere.
Climate change has recently resulted in severe coral
bleaching events in Madagascar and represents the
single greatest natural threat to coral reef systems. In
addition to large-scale natural threats, rapidly
increasing human populations - and the resulting
increase in fishing pressure and human activities on
reefs - have led to overexploitation and widespread
degradation of the region's marine resources.
The poverty-stricken and rapidly expanding Vezo
population of southwestern Madagascar is entirely
dependent on coastal and marine resources for subsistence
and family income. The remote village of Andavadoaka,
population 700, and its nearby offshore
islands represent some of the most remote and biodiverse
coral habitats in the Indian Ocean.
A partnership between UK-based marine conservation
charity Blue Ventures Conservation and the Institut
Halieutique et des Sciences Marines (Madagascar's
principle marine research institute) is working
with the Andavadoaka community and other NGO
partners including the Wildlife Conservation Society
and IRD.
The partnership aims to minimize the environmental
impacts of human activities on the region's marine
and coastal environments through the creation of a
Marine Protected Area (MPA).
By providing a nursery ground and safe haven away
from fishing pressures, it will help sustain fish stocks
and support traditional artisanal fishing. The MPA will
also attract ecotourism, thereby generating revenue
for the management of the project and helping to
diversify the local economy. In addition, the partnership
will conduct important biodiversity research in
this unique and hreatened habitat.
The experiences of the project will contribute
towards a model for the design and implementation
of marine and coastal environmental management
plans in Madagascar and across similar regions.
