This week, the President of the Makirovana Association—an Indigenous community organization (VOI) that co-manages the Makirovana-Tsihomanaomby Protected Area in northeastern Madagascar and a Conservation Allies partner—reported a devastating and violent attack on their village by illegal gold miners. More than 80 homes were destroyed, vital conservation infrastructure was burned, and one community conservationist was kidnapped.
Two weeks earlier, the Makirovana community patrol uncovered a clandestine mining camp operating deep inside the Protected Area. Police arrested two miners, who were released only after formally committing not to return.
But last week, in retaliation, a larger group of illegal miners launched a coordinated assault on villages around the Protected Area. They targeted families directly involved in protecting the forest—smashing homes, threatening residents, and forcing terrified villagers to flee into the forest. One of the members of the Association, trying to prevent the destruction, was kidnapped by the gold miners and taken away.
For their safety, the Makirovana Association evacuated many families to a temporary shelter in the nearby city of Sambava.
The violence escalated over the weekend, with miners returning to raze 88 family homes, destroy the village’s chief’s house, and burn all conservation facilities, including ten native tree nurseries and reforestation sites. The attackers openly stated their intent: to intimidate and eliminate any community members standing in the way of illegal mining inside the Protected Area.
Despite the trauma and danger, the Makirovana communities remain steadfast in their commitment to defend their forests and their rights as Indigenous stewards of this critical landscape. Their courage galvanized action—local authorities and citizens called for immediate intervention.
Yesterday, a joint force of more than 60 armed officers from the gendarmerie, police, and military deployed to the Makirovana region. They have begun arrests despite armed resistance and are working to secure the Protected Area and protect the communities whose livelihoods and culture are tied to its survival. The operation is ongoing, but fortunately, the kidnapped Indigenous conservationist was safely released.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
The Makirovana Indigenous community has lost nearly everything. Families who risk their safety daily to preserve Madagascar’s irreplaceable forests now need urgent help to rebuild their homes and restore the conservation facilities that protect this biodiverse landscape.
Your support today will:
- Rebuild 88 destroyed homes for displaced families
- Restore nurseries and reforestation infrastructure
- Strengthen community-led patrols protecting the Makirovana-Tsihomanaomby Forest
- Uphold the rights and safety of Indigenous forest defenders
This is a moment when solidarity truly matters. Please consider an urgent contribution to help the people of Makirovana recover and continue safeguarding their forests for future generations.
Note: VOI stands for Vondron’Olona Ifotony,local grassroots community associations in Madagascar that are crucial for conservation efforts. They manage natural resources within their territories by creating and enforcing management plans, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring the sustainable use of resources for their livelihoods. These community-based efforts are supported by government and non-governmental organizations to build capacity through training and funding, strengthening local stewardship for long-term conservation success.