Toute l'actualitéIn Madagascar, our reforestation campaign is coming to an end with the planting of the last trees of the season. In total, Reforest'Action's support to the Génération Masoala project will have made it possible to plant 82,000 trees since 2018, including 60,000 trees in 2020. Let’s have a look back at one of this season's flagship operations that generated great benefits for both the environment and local communities.
A reforestation operation that complements agroforestry actions
Mainly focused on agroforestry, which enables the inhabitants of the Ambatobe region - in the north-east part of the island - to reconcile trees and food crops without destroying the surrounding forests, the project has developed to a new dimension in 2020. A specific action to reforest the banks of the Onive River was carried out last October at the request of the inhabitants of the various villages along the river.
Restoring the banks of a river to fight against natural hazards
This river flows into the Indian Ocean from the Ambohitralanana village, after having crossed the Masoala plateau, that had undergone disastrous floods the past years. This phenomenon was mostly due to the deforestation of its banks, and amplified by heavy rains in the area. Aware of the destructive forces of these floods (flooding, bank erosion), the local communities reacted by proposing an operation to reforest the banks of the Onive River - financed by Reforest'Action and carried on site by our project leader, Génération Masoala.
A total of 10,000 trees were planted thanks to the mobilization of the villagers. The young shoots, grown in three nurseries associated with the project, were brought on foot or by pirogue to the planting sites. This forest in the making hosts three different species, particularly adapted to wetlands, including the powder-puff tree (Barringtonia racemosa). It will fulfil essential functions: soil retention, bank stabilisation, rainwater filtration and protection against gales, thus protecting the villages located near the natural hazards.
Making villagers aware of the benefits of trees and their preservation
At the end of the planting operation, spread over three days, our technical partner on site organized awareness workshops with the villagers to highlight the various benefits of this project and to mobilize them for the future maintenance of the trees, in order to give them the best possible growing conditions. A beautiful community momentum for the restoration of ecosystems, which successfully concludes this reforestation campaign.
