For the first time, Madagascar National Parks can see, coordinate, and respond to threats across its 8.3 million-acre Protected Area network through a National Protected Area Control Center.
Protecting a forest begins with knowing what is happening inside it. In Madagascar, where Protected Areas span vast and often remote landscapes, that has always been a formidable challenge.
This month, Madagascar National Parks (MNP) took an important step toward meeting that challenge with the inauguration and launch of Madagascar’s first National Protected Area Control Center in Antananarivo, supported by Conservation Allies.
At the heart of the new center is SYNERGI-MNP, a national system designed to bring together information from Protected Areas, field teams and satellite-based environmental alerts, funded by Conservation Allies. Rather than information remaining isolated at individual sites, the Control Center provides MNP’s headquarters with a consolidated picture of incidents and conservation operations across the network, in real time.
This represents a significant change in the way Protected Areas can be managed, from receiving information after the fact to now being able to identify emerging threats and support a rapid response in minutes.
Previously, teams were already using Global Forest Watch, a satellite-based forest monitoring platform, to monitor fires and deforestation alerts, but monitoring and response were largely managed at the individual Protected Area level. Information was therefore spread across different teams and locations, making it more difficult to coordinate responses across the network. The new system brings these alerts and field updates together, helping teams verify threats, communicate more efficiently and respond more quickly.
“This is a major step forward for Madagascar. SYNERGI-MNP allows us to connect what our teams are seeing in the field with real-time data from across our PA network, so that we can identify threats, verify what is happening and coordinate a response much more quickly. Most importantly, this technology strengthens our rangers—it gives them better information, better communication and greater security as they work to protect Madagascar’s forests and biodiversity.” — Dr. Ony Rakotoarisoa, Director General, Madagascar National Parks.
From satellite alert to action
SYNERGI-MNP incorporates real-time satellite alerts identifying forest fires and tree cover lost to deforestation, including in remote areas where monitoring is difficult.
When a signal is received, it is checked by the MNP Control Center team. They then immediately communicate with the Protected Area managers and patrol staff to understand what is happening, determine its significance, and coordinate a response.
By enabling MNP to detect threats earlier and coordinate faster responses to fires, logging and agricultural expansion, the system is expected to help reduce deforestation across Madagascar’s Protected Area network.
Connecting the rangers protecting Madagascar’s forests
As part of the initiative, MNP is deploying 100 ZOLEO satellite communicators donated by Conservation Allies and ZOLEO to strengthen communication between remote Protected Areas and headquarters. The devices allow teams to communicate where conventional networks are not available, share their location constantly, conduct safety check-ins, and send SOS alerts in an emergency.
The initiative also includes 66 smartphones equipped to support field operations, including SMART patrol tracking and the transmission of information from teams working in the field.
Together, these tools help connect rangers and patrol teams in some of Madagascar’s most remote landscapes with the national coordination system.
“Conservation is ultimately about people taking action to protect nature. Our goal in supporting SYNERGI-MNP, the Control Center and the ZOLEO communications network is to give Madagascar’s rangers and conservation managers the information and tools they need to act faster and more effectively. This is much more than a technology project—it is building a national conservation intelligence system that can help ensure that when a threat is detected, someone knows about it, knows what to do, and can respond.” — Dr. Paul Salaman, President, Conservation Allies.
From technology to a culture of rapid response
A control center cannot protect a forest simply by displaying an alert on a screen. Someone must respond, and the outcome must be recorded.
That is why SYNERGI-MNP is establishing clear operational procedures and responsibilities for field teams, Protected Area focal points, park directors, and headquarters staff.
The project’s ambitious performance targets include 100% of critical incidents transmitted within 10 minutes and at least 80% treated within 24 hours.
These targets create something that conservation management has often lacked: measurable standards for how quickly information moves from detection to action.
They also provide a way to learn. By tracking incidents, response times and outcomes, MNP can identify where the system is working, where bottlenecks remain and how procedures can be improved.
For Madagascar, this is an important moment
The country’s Protected Areas face enormous and growing pressures—from forest fires and deforestation to illegal activities and the challenges of operating in remote landscapes.
By connecting the rangers on the ground with better information, reliable communications and a national coordination system, Madagascar is building the ability to see threats sooner, understand them faster and respond more effectively.
This is not simply a new way to monitor Madagascar’s forests.It is a new way to protect them.
The initiative is led by Madagascar National Parks and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, with support from the Government of Germany through BMZ and KfW, the Fondation pour les Aires Protégées et la Biodiversité de Madagascar (FAPBM), and Conservation Allies, whose support helped establish the Control Room and strengthen the associated operational infrastructure. We also thank Zoleo for supporting this initiative.