{"id":96668,"date":"2022-10-03T14:32:42","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T13:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/?post_type=project&p=96668"},"modified":"2026-02-26T15:34:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T14:34:00","slug":"protecting-biodiversity-on-madagascar-and-the-indian-ocean-islands","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/project\/protecting-biodiversity-on-madagascar-and-the-indian-ocean-islands\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting the Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Header photo: Madagascar day gecko \u24b8 <\/mark>David Clode<\/mark><\/a> on <\/mark>Unsplash<\/mark><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands possess an astounding number of species, many of which only exist there (endemic species). Madagascar alone 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. 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.<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Supported by the CEPF, IUCN NL forms the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) together with partners from Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and the Seychelles.  As a RIT, we support the development and oversight of a portfolio of 80 to 100 grants to non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, academic institutions, private companies and other organisations on the islands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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About the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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CEPF fills a unique, strategic role in addressing the biodiversity and climate crises by mobilizing and empowering civil society \u2014 nongovernmental organisations, communities, Indigenous peoples groups, universities and more \u2014 to protect the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Since 2001, CEPF has catalysed enduring, locally led biodiversity conservation through over US$277 million in grants to more than 2,600 organizations in 109 developing and transitional countries. Results include more than 16 million hectares of formal protected areas established, over 1,025 threatened species supported, and more than 4,900 communities benefiting. Learn more at www.cepf.net<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint initiative of l\u2019Agence Fran\u00e7aise de D\u00e9veloppement (AFD), Conservation International, the European Union (EU), Fondation Hans Wilsdorf, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Canada, the Government of Japan, and the World Bank. Its fundamental objective is to ensure that civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Thanks to funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through AFD as an accredited entity for the GCF, and from the EU through AFD as a fiduciary agent, CEPF has established and manages a 10-year program of US$50 million to support civil society organizations in promoting ecosystem-based adaptation in Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot. Under the auspices of the Ministries of Environment in the Comoros, Environment and Sustainable Development in Madagascar, Finance, Economic Planning and Development in Mauritius, and Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment in the Seychelles, the program’s activities are being implemented in the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. Madagascar receives additional support from the Franklinia Foundation for the conservation of Madagascar’s endangered trees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Because Madagascar and the continental Seychelles broke off from the Gondwanaland supercontinent more than 160 million years ago, the islands are a living example of species evolution in isolation. Madagascar, which makes up about 95 percent of the hotspot\u2018s land area, possesses an astounding 11,200 endemic plant species. This endemism is not limited to plants: the island is home to 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u2018Ecosystem-based adaptation is the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>Convention on Biological Diversity (2009)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change impacts<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Healthy ecosystems such as intact forests, wetlands and coastal areas provide many benefits to local communities, including firewood, clean water, medicines, shelter and food. They can also form physical barriers against extreme weather events such as cyclones and storm surges. Biodiverse forests, for example, can protect roads and other infrastructure from erosion and landslides.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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CEPF wants to empower communities and civil society to improve the resilience of species, ecosystems, and humans to climate change. One of the investment priorities within this grants programme is therefore to implement Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) actions, including agroforestry and \u2018climate smart agriculture\u2019, eradication of invasive species, restoration of degraded watersheds and coastal ecosystems, and promotion of sustainable management of coastal and terrestrial ecosystems. More about this topic can be found in the Ecosystem Profile.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Ecosystem Profile Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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CEPF’s conservation investment is guided by the \u2018Ecosystem Profile\u2019. This includes specific strategic directions and investment priorities designed to guide civil society groups in applying for grants and CEPF in awarding funding to meet the stated objectives. The most important conservation issues in the hotspot are highlighted in the Ecosystem Profile, thus ensuring that the CEPF funding is going to the areas of the hotspot that need it most.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Read the Ecosystem Profile (EN)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Read the Ecosystem Profile (FR)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Read the summary (EN)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Read the summary (FR)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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An overview of all projects that have received grants as part of the current cycle can be found on this map:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n