Situated within one of the country’s last great wildernesses, Makira-Masoala connects two strongholds of precious Malagasy endemism
Funds disbursed
Funding year
Program area
Makira-Masoala contains some of the highest levels of endemic biodiversity in Madagascar, meaning it is home to rare, unique species found nowhere else on earth.
The legacy landscape unites two critical national parks, thereby helping to preserve the integrity of the country’s climate-critical eastern rainforests. Together, they form the largest remaining block of forest in Madagascar.
The region also provides key ecosystem services to surrounding communities, valued at nearly three billion USD per year.
IUCN Category II National and Natural Parks
Community-Managed Areas Around the Parks
| Country |
|---|
| Madagascar |
| IUCN Category |
| IUCN Category II (National Park, Natural Park), community-managed areas |
| Ecosystem type |
| Tropical forests, dryland, reefs |
| Key species |
| Sarcolaenaceae, red-ruffed lemur, black and white ruffed lemur, Madagascar day gecko, leaf-tailed gecko, helmet vanga, red owl, tomato frog |
| Conservation and climate relevance |
| Key Biodiversity Areas |
| Implementing partner(s) |
| Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) |
| Governmental partner(s) |
| Government of Madagascar, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development |
| Grant type |
| Perpetual |
| Match funder |
| Arcadia |
Program in brief
Activities
- Evaluate and improve the management of both protected areas (with management and business plans, climate vulnerability assessments, alignment with best practices, etc.)
- Expand protection and restoration through collaborative demarcation of the protected areas, equipment purchases, joint SMART patrols, training of and support to community organizations, and collaboration with judicial authorities
- Operationalize a monitoring database containing information on habitats, species population, climate change, etc. to inform adaptive management
- Support community-based natural resource management that directly and indirectly enhance the socio-economic status of local communities
- Enhance community well-being and reduce threats by expanding value-chain programs, promoting conservation agriculture, and developing community ecotourism
Conservation challenges
- Clearing of habitat
- Overexploitation of natural resources
- Bushmeat hunting
- Deforestation caused by agricultural conversion of land, construction, gathering of fuelwood, charcoal production, mining, and forestry
- Poor governance and lack of law enforcement
For information on this landscape’s Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD)
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