Empowering sustainable forest governance: TAFO MIHAAVO’s conservation efforts in Madagascar

TAFO MIHAAVO is a federation of local community-based organisations in Madagascar committed to the sustainable management of natural resources. The organisation plays a pivotal role in empowering local communities to take charge of their natural resources through capacity-building initiatives and by reinforcing governance structures. Its primary focus is on improving the livelihoods of community members while safeguarding Madagascar’s unique biodiversity.

Header photo: Field visit @SAF_FJKM

Supported by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), TAFO MIHAAVO Haute Matsiatra leads the project ‘Empowering Local Organizations for Sustainable Forest Governance in Madagascar’, launched in October 2023. This initiative aims to promote sustainable governance practices in the peripheral communities of the Fandriana Vondrozo Forest Corridor.

Conservation on Madagascar

Madagascar possesses an astounding number of species, many of which are endemic to Madagascar. The island is home to over 11,000 endemic plant species, five families of birds, five families of primates and two families of freshwater fish found nowhere else on the planet. New species are being discovered at a rapid rate in Madagascar: 22 new mammal species and subspecies have been described in the past 15 years. In addition to its incredible species diversity, the hotspot provides millions of people with fresh water and other ecosystem services that are essential to their survival.

Due to agricultural practices, hunting, illegal wildlife trade, tourism and climate change, the islands have a very high level of degraded natural ecosystems. To date, the national and regional governments have been unable to effectively enforce nature and environment legislation. As a result, ecosystem services are at risk of rapidly disappearing, despite the fact that 90 percent of the population of Madagascar are directly dependent on primary resources from agriculture, fishery and forestry. Moreover, healthy ecosystems act as a physical barrier against extreme weather events such as cyclones and storm surges.

IUCN NL and CEPF

Well-informed citizens can play a crucial role in enforcing legislation and regulations designed to protect nature and ecosystems in the long term. Local people not only do understand the local context better than anyone else, but also can be the most effective drivers of change through their actions when they are given the opportunity. This is why CEPF targets the aforementioned issues by mobilising and empowering civil society, ranging from indigenous peoples groups and communities, to universities and nongovernmental organisations. IUCN NL expert on Madagascar Mark van der Wal explains: “In Madagascar, our aim is landscape management that respects the ecological parameters for sustainable development. We are strengthening civil society organisations to help encourage citizens, government and businesses to work towards that aim.”

Supported by CEPF, IUCN NL is leading the consortium for the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) which includes partners from Madagascar (SAF/FJKM), Comoros (ID-ONG), Mauritius (FORENA) and the Seychelles (SeyCCAT). As a RIT, we support the development and oversight of a portfolio of more than 100 grants to non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, academic institutions, private companies and other organisations on the islands.

The TAFO MIHAAVO project

Scheduled to continue until March 2026, the project has already achieved some important milestones in strengthening the capacity of local communities and VOI structures by:

• Training 75 individuals from ten VOIs to implement updated management plan regulations and meet contractual obligations with the Regional Directorate of Environment and Sustainable Development (DREED-HM), including the method of counting occupants and the rules for spatial planning.
• Strengthening the capacities of VOI structures and the TAFO MIHAAVO federation in managing the transferred zones’ management plans and training about farmer’s rights.
• Training over 60 VOI members in project management, facilitation techniques, debate facilitation, community mobilisation, association management, monitoring and evaluation, and more technical topics such as tree planting techniques and biodiversity.Strengthening the capacity of 120 patrol officers on communication and reporting.

Through its ten VOI members, Tafo Mihaavo has also made tangible contributions to restoration efforts by planting native tree species in the core areas of each VOI-managed controlled occupation zone.