Fandriana-Marolambo Forest Landscape Restoration, Fandriana (Fianarantsoa Province)

Children living near the Fandriana-Marolambo forest, curious about the ‘vazaha’ (white person)

The moist forest in eastern Madagascar is characterised by tropical humid and sub-humid forests.

The particular landscape of Fandriana-Marolambo is situated between the Central plateau and eastern escarpment, South of Antananarivo, and is about 150,000 hectares in size.

The moist forests represent an important centre of endemism and contain many species of lemurs as well as over 20 species of small mammals. As their habitat becomes degraded or disappears, all of these species, found nowhere else, are at risk of disappearing forever.

The project goal is to restore the ecological services and socio-economic values of the Fandriana-Marolambo landscape within the Madagascar Moist Forest Ecoregion.

The project undertakes analyses of the main causes of forest degradation and identify and implement appropriate restoration strategies in partnership with local authorities and communities.

Apr-Jun 2007

Moira Hough, UK/US
Marjolein Kamermans, Netherlands

...did a study on the crayfish market of Miarinavaratra. Crayfish are an important part of the Malagasy diet. Almost all crayfish for consumption in Miarinavaratra, are caught in high numbers in the Fandriana-Marolambo forest. They are sold locally, and/or exported to the capital Antananarivo where good money is being paid for large specimens. Crayfish are highly dependent on a healthy state of their forested habitat, but due to habitat loss, the population seems to diminish.

WWF is concerned that a drop in crayfish numbers may lead to a population that is too small to sustain itself, which will have catastrophic effects on the existence of the crayfish species.

» View Moira & Marjolein's video on their crayfish study in Madagascar