Moving forward despite instability and insecurity

Progress is most tangible in activities linked to transfers of natural resources management, promotion of alternative agricultural practices, and capacity building of local communities.

Not all objectives met

Forest restoration and reforestation are also moving forwards, although not all the objectives have been met. Regarding protected areas, progress of the activities concerns mainly Fort Dauphin. Delays in the protected areas process are mainly due to the lack of engagement of some local authorities amidst political instability.

Insecurity in certain regions (Ivohibe, Fort Dauphin) and poor weather conditions have obliged the HCPF team to postpone some activities (production of samplings and reforestation plans, for example).

Carbon work on track

On the other hand, the LiDAR mission – one of the cornerstones of HCPF’s carbon-related component – occurred in end of March and was a major success. Work related to carbon stock assessment is advancing at very good pace as well.

So far, some 37 local associations – or 2,150 households (five to six people living in the same habitation) – in the programme’s five sites have participated in sensitizations about climate change. The final objective is to reach 4,613 households at the end of March 2012 when the HCPF is supposed to close.

In addition, over the past six months 1,750 households have been sensitized to sustainable use of natural resources and inventories and zoning carried out for 44 forests where transfers of natural resources management to local communities will take place.

Crucial irrigation schemes

Feasibility studies for the building of agricultural infrastructure have been launched in all sites except in Fandriana. Such infrastructure, which consists mainly of irrigation schemes, is crucial for local communities as it is expected to help them achieve better yields.

Since the start of the HCPF, 49 reforestation sites have been identified and 86 hectares have already been reforested – for the past semester, these figures are 29 sites and 60 hectares respectively. Only in Doany (on the Andapa site) 40 hectares have been replanted as planned, which compensates for the failure in the neighboring site of Bealanana, where only four hectares have been reforested – instead of 36 as planned – after tree nursery gardeners failed to produce enough samplings. 

Furthermore, 35 sites totaling 16,500 hectares have been identified – together with the local communities – for forest landscape restoration. Since the launch of the HCPF, 94 sites totaling 17,410 hectares have been identified (with a final goal of 20,110 ha). In all sites, local communities have also been sensitized to the importance of forest landscape restoration.